Carevan, a mobile soup kitchen, provides meals once a week to Griffith’s disadvantaged and homeless.

Griffith neighbourhood house community centre co-ordinator Barbara Penninnga was overwhelmed by the success of Carevan, which has now served more than 12,000 meals.

“We thought we were going to feed homeless people - maybe 10 or 12 a night, and the first night we got 60 people and now it's 120 constantly,” she said.

Carevan also provides care packs, with basic hygiene essentials inside, to those who need them.

“Most of our patrons are children, so as well as the care packs we also have a book box for the kids so they can borrow or take books and have them to read.” 

For volunteer Dianne Williams Care Van is about more than just providing people with food. “You are really a part of something that helps,” she said. 

“You see people coming week after week and you know you’re an important part of their lives. I think it’s good for the kids to know there are people here who care for them outside of their family.”

The Carevan success story depends entirely on donations from the local community to survive.

“The community is fully behind us, we use anything and everything they give us and the schools and clubs do the cooking,” Ms Penninga said.

“The great thing about Carevan is everyone is working on it, we've got every age and every culture working on it together.”

People interested in lending a hand are encouraged to volunteer or make a donation.  Carevan also needs more male volunteers and new chairs for patrons to sit on. 

“We also have a wage donation program where people give us a buck a week out of their pay check and at the end of the year I give them a tax receipt and they can claim it back,” Ms Penninga said. 

If you’d like to become a Carevan volunteer contact Griffith Neighbourhood House on 6962 4144.