A single mother with five children without enough food to eat or four separate men admitting they hadn’t eaten in 48 hours – these stories are no longer rare but becoming the reality for a growing number of people in Ipswich.
For 17 years, the Helping Hands Van has been a lifeline on the streets west of Ipswich.
Every Tuesday night, volunteers set out armed with sandwiches, groceries, toiletries, blankets, and, most importantly, a friendly face and a listening ear.
What started as a small act of community kindness in someone’s kitchen has grown into a vital service for people doing it tough.
Last month alone, the Van helped 256 people – the highest number in its history. Attendance at the weekly outreach has grown by more than 30 per cent, and each week brings new faces: families with young children, older Australians living in cars, and teenagers without a support network.
The Van provides practical essentials: fresh sandwiches, warm drinks, groceries to take home, toothpaste, toilet paper, feminine hygiene products, sleeping bags, and tents. But more than that, it offers connection, dignity, and hope – a reminder that someone cares.
Understanding, compassion, and a judgment-free space are central to the initiative.
“Sometimes people have kept everything locked inside for so long,” Helping Hands volunteer Anthony said. “When there’s someone trying to help them, it becomes easier to say, ‘Hey, I’m really struggling.’ ”
To meet the demand, volunteers provide food to eat on the spot and pantry staples for the following nights.
Volunteers are the heart of the operation, including 12 to 15 people who come out each week, including Year 12 students from a local school who participate as part of their community service.
Anthony said the team has had to roster shifts due to the sheer number of volunteers wanting to help.
Run entirely by volunteers, 100 per cent of every donation goes directly to helping people in need.
This Easter, Helping Hands is calling on individuals, schools, churches, and businesses across Queensland – and across Australia – to step up. Even small contributions can make a difference: $10 feeds one person, $50 feeds five people.
“We’re just a bunch of humans helping another bunch of humans,” Anthony said. “We don’t want anything in return – we get so much from giving.
“It’s about connection, conversation, and providing a little relief in a world that can be incredibly tough.”
