I am sitting with my housemate Daniel after a long day at work. We crack open a beer and unwind from the day. He has a bruise across his left eye. I has asked him about it. “I got in a tussle with a homeless guy” he tells me.

Daniel is an Outreach Worker at Launch Housing, an independent organisation aimed at ending homelessness. He walks the streets of Melbourne on a weekly basis and spends time with our forgotten and looked over citizens. He offered them support and links the to vital social support services. Many would be surprised to find that every night there are hundreds of people in Melbourne without a bed to sleep. The Youth Projects center, based in Hosier Lane, recorded 280 unregistered homeless clients in a month-long period in June this year

Today’s story is not uncommon.

Daniel found James in the city during his street beat. Like any other day he approached to offer support and to assess James' situation. The conversation started calmly enough. “I was asking him how his day was and how he ended up here” Daniel says. The interaction was normal enough. Daniel then started suggested places James could go for support. James replied with “I don’t trust any of them, they’re out to get us.” James was referring to the government. Daniel immediately identified that this fellow had a mental illness.

You see, many of those who live of on streets of Melbourne suffer from some type of mental illness. Recent ABS data shows that of those who had reported being homeless at least once in their lives, more than half had experienced a mental disorder in the previous 12 months, 3 times higher than among those who had never been homeless.

A trained social worker Daniel attempted his best to work around the issue, that's when things got sour. James quickly turned on Daniel. Shouting and accusing Daniel of being from some government agency out to get him. That’s when James swings a punch at him and landed right below his left eye.

“You alright mate?” I inquired. Daniel just shrugged it off. “Just another day on the beat mate” he responds.

We talk of solutions and what the average person can do to help. Daniel explains that he specializes in the most disenfranchised homeless in Melbourne, the primary homeless or ‘rough sleepers’, many with mental illnesses. “Unfortunately many fall through the cracks of the system. Their mental illness creates an extra barrier to accesses support services.” he says.

“If you really want to help out, when you see a homeless person begging, don’t give them your change. Buy them some food. That’s the best way to start helping out” he adds.

Find out how to help the homeless buy buying a FoodShare meal at your local cafe.

 

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Have you ever been in a restaurant where you pay what you want? Why would people open up a restaurant like that? What is their purpose and does such a business work long-term?

Why?

Shanaka Fernando grew up in Sri Lanka, a country which was influenced by war for several decades. People identified themselves with war, they suffered, they had not enough food and seeked for it. Shanaka experienced hunger during his first twenty years - a factor which influenced him intensely. As he knows the feeling of seeking for food, he wanted to change something. He opened up Lentil as Anything - the first restaurant in St Kilda in year 2000.

“When money loses its value,
the goodwill and kindness we extend
to each other will emerge as the ultimate
and most sustainable currency of exchange.”

Lentil as Anything is a not for profit community organisation which provides vegetarian and vegan meals. As a customer at that restaurant you can choose between different meals for breakfast, lunch or dinner and pay what you feel the food is worth into a treasure chest.

The idea sounds debatable but it works!

The demand at Lentil is high as an avagerage of 7500 to 8000 people eat there every month. Hence, since then 5 more restaurants opened up: 4 in Melbourne and one in Sydney.

Their mission and vision is clear to us

Lentils as Anything provides a wholesome and nutritious meal where money is not a concern.

With eating at the restaurant, the customer has the opportunity to contribute towards a world with respect, generosity, trust, equality, freedom and kindness rule.

How was my own experience at Lentil as Anything?
When I entered the Lentil as Anything restaurant in St Kilda, I could feel the highly motivated vibe and the happyness of the volunteers. The restaurant was quite busy - which is good for the business. I also saw two homeless people who ate a warm meal and were warmly welcomed by the staff. Somehow I could understand why everyone was happy here: People helped other people with disadvantages by providing their time and motivation to work as a volunteer in the restaurant.

The following TEDx Talk is about Shanaka's touching story behind Lentil as Anything:

Do you want to support Lentil as Anything? Click here for more information:

Lentils as Anything website: http://lentilasanything.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/lentilasanything/
Donate here: http://lentilasanything.com/donate/
Read his interview here: http://www.goodfood.com.au/eat-out/news/the-lentil-messiah-or-just-a-very-naughty-boy-20130105-2ca4i


Please also like our Foodshare Facebook Page HERE!

Photos taken by Ngoc An Cao

"We are re-branding Norlane, as not just a place where drug dealers and car thieves come from..., it's a place where great produce and amazing jam comes from" Katie, 2&5 Founder.

In Norlane one in four households do not have any vehicle, and 40% of households only have one car. Most people would think this is a positive sign indicating positive alternatives to car ownership however it's not the case in Norlane as there is limited public transport and cycling is not so practical an alternative. When access to a vehicle is the only way to access fresh fruit and vegetables it becomes a significant problem that leads to public health issues and the problems lead on from there, which unfortunately Norlane have no shortage of.

A new venture called "2 & 5" has been established to address this problem. 2&5 is named after the number of portions of fruit and vegetables we should eat every day and is achieving its goal of providing access to fresh fruit and vegetables to local residents, who before this venture started had no local access to fresh fruit and vegetables. 

Katie of 2&5

"2 & 5" have established a market garden that supplies their fruit and vegetable store, a lovely coffee shop that also sells it's own brand of jams and chutneys which are becoming very popular in the region.

"2&5" don't stop there, they are employing long term unemployed locals and are truly changing peoples lives in many different ways. True success, of which Katie, the founder of "2&5" should be proud.

I made the trip to "2&5" to see it for myself and was deeply moved by the people behind this venture and their purpose. Something so simple and for many taken granted can have a significant impact on so many peoples lives. If you're in the area or even if you're not, drop in and support someone making a real difference. Spread the word.

PS - 2&5 are looking for a General Manager, so if you're interested click here : <http://www.socialtraders.com.au/news-and-events/portfolio-enterprise-2-5-recruiting-general-manager/>

nourish volunteers

When Colin talked about the Foodshare concept, I was really impressed. I believe in the impact Foodshare will have in the future in order to reduce hunger in Australia.


Please support us by giving us a LIKE on Facebook or commenting on our posts if you are interested in having a Foodshare meal!