Street Outreach to Those Experiencing Homelessness Continues in Brisbane

For the past three years, members of the Brisbane Australia Logan Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have served a meal every Friday to the homeless in their community.

The Logan Stake has partnered with Rosies-Friends on the Street, a non-profit organisation, in their street outreach program.

Rosies is a community of people, inspired by the gospel of Jesus Christ, who reach out to those most abandoned, to be present with them, offering them the experience of community and belonging.

Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, Rosies needed to modify their street outreach program.  Since Logan has such a large population of individuals experiencing homelessness, the need was great.

Logan Stake volunteers regularly packaged donations of food, hygiene kits and socks to hand out to the patrons.

During the Christmas season, Rosies-Logan invited the local Church members to assist with the food, entertainment, presents and personal connection with the patrons at their Christmas party.  Rosies believes, “sharing friendships creates belonging,” and many volunteers have developed friendships with patrons.

Margaret Harvey, Coordinator of Rosies - Logan Branch, said that the Christmas party “was a fantastic evening, not only for our patrons but for those who were there to serve.”

“We look forward to the new opportunities to give service in the coming months,” says Helen Foster, president of the women’s Relief Society organisation.

She adds, “We find joy knowing that when ‘[we] are in the service of our fellow beings, [we] are only in the service of our God’ (Mosiah 2:17).”