Belgrave South Baptist Church (BSBC) members donated an amazing total of one thousand cans of food to the Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Service (DRERS) earlier this year to support disadvantaged and homeless people.

The church has contributed to the local community in this way for around six years – starting with just a couple of hundred cans in the first year.

In addition to this annual collection, BSBC also contributes around $50 to DRERS each week through the Cash For Cans initiative, by keeping two 44-gallon drums at the church for members to fill with recyclable bottles, cans and cardboard drink containers. When full, the drums are taken to a recycling depot where they are emptied through an automatic counter which credits DRERS with 10c per item.

BSBC Pastor Julian Holdsworth said the church had a generous heart to spread the justice of God in the community and the world, as we anticipate the day when there will be no more hunger, wars and brokenness, as Romans 8 says. “We long for, and seek to symbolically anticipate that day in what we try to do in the community, whenever we can. I believe it’s more than just the right thing to do, it’s the theologically right thing to do as well.”

Kevin Gray is a member at BSBC, and is also treasurer of the relief service, where he has volunteered to help people in need for the past 10-15 years. “As churches, we’re not just spiritual groups, we’re part of a community. Jesus’ command is that you love the Lord your God and love your neighbour as yourself. We don’t do that really if we’re just making out a cheque for a few dollars or giving somebody a handout here and there, it needs to be a genuine commitment to help people. We regard it as practical Christianity, taking seriously our commitment to those doing it tough. I wouldn’t like my family to ever feel hungry and I’d do anything I could to make sure they had plenty to eat. If we’re going to take Christ’s call seriously, we need to be involved. Nobody should go hungry – we need to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Hidden poverty is an issue in the Dandenong Ranges, as it is around Australia – the latest Census showed 122,000 Australians experienced homelessness, while only 6% of these were visibly homeless – sleeping on park benches and the like.  Kevin explains that “For every person living on the streets, there are about 20 people who are borderline homeless – they’re couch surfing at friends’ houses, sleeping in cars, they’re about to be evicted from their home, or are victims of domestic violence. These cans of food will help the visible and hidden homeless, many of whom still can’t afford to buy food.”

DRERS started in 1997 by a Yarra Ranges pastor, Frank Watson OAM, and his wife Merryn Watson OAM, who supplied meals to locals in need using one freezer and one car. It now assists hundreds of people per year and is supported by the Department of Social Services and the Shire of Yarra Ranges.

As well as providing food, the DRERS carries out assessments to see where help is needed in areas such as emergency accommodation, referrals, clothing and prescription vouchers and school-fee assistance.

Kevin said churches who would like to help the homeless could make contact with a charity that is already at work in their local community. “This is better than starting from the ground up, and there are many organisations where churches can get involved.”

For information on DRERS visit drers.org.au