I can say in all fairness that our BBQs for the Homeless and Others in Need are something very special, perhaps even unique. They are get-togethers of so many beautiful people who want to help those in need and so many beautiful people who are in need of some help.
Volunteers help in so many ways prior to each event and are priceless also on the day; it takes one giant peaceful community to bring each BBQ to fruition. We have an extraordinary patron who travels from afar to attend each BBQ. As a member of our Circle of Inspiration and with many years of lived experience of homelessness, he has conversations with people who come to see him, giving them time, understanding, empathy, hope and self-belief. The support services that come to our BBQs are truly amazing in their own right, but put them together at our events and they create magic. Whatever people’s contributions are, they come straight from the heart. At our BBQs nobody pays for anything and nobody gets paid, but there is a great exchange of heartfelt, invaluable kind human interaction.
Our BBQs are full of connection; social inclusion and equality are things we hold very dear, and obviously our events create them and are created with them in mind. It is heart-warming to see our guests sitting around the table or in the grass under the trees, socializing and enjoying a delicious meal together; they rarely have that opportunity. It is great to see them connect comfortably with our volunteers and with the support services. It is also wonderful to see the volunteers and services connect and re-connect with each other when they recognize each other from previous BBQs. They all simply have the same goal: helping the homeless and others in need and contributing to a fantastic day.
It doesn’t matter whether you live in a house or on the street, whether you own a business empire or only have the clothes on your back. At our BBQs everyone is equal, and our guests feel they can talk, laugh, joke, make eye contact, hug. They stand up straighter as they gain some confidence and some self-esteem.
In a world where they are too often ordered to go elsewhere (without advice of where that “elsewhere” is), our BBQs are a safe place where they can just “be”, where they are wholeheartedly welcome and aren’t sent away but instead are spoilt, encouraged to have another serve of fabulous food or pick another jumper. They walk away with “new” clothes, a new haircut perhaps, a health check under their belt and some non-perishable foods.
If our guests feel comfortable, they will tell you about themselves, opening you up to a world that may be very different from yours, but that nonetheless is real; it is their everyday reality. You will probably never forget the people you meet and the stories you hear. Suddenly a faceless, shapeless, homeless individual becomes a human being just like you, shaped by different circumstances but with the same needs, and probably a few other similarities too.
That is what our BBQs do: they bring people closer together where otherwise there is a gap. By creating opportunities for people to really “meet”, we hope to create a more coherent community through increased understanding and tolerance of our homeless and otherwise marginalized fellow human beings. Our BBQs for the Homeless and Others in Need are beneficial for everyone, not just for our guests. We all learn, we all grow our spirit and our heart, we all feel good when we can give or receive some kindness and when we see a light switch on in other people’s eyes when kindness is received. At our BBQs we all see each other for who we really are: human beings. Full stop.
Berni
