Rosies is about friendship. It is getting cold outside, but for many who suffer from loneliness winter never stops. We connect with our friends on the street to create a sense of belonging. We engage with those who are homeless, marginalised or simply lonely with a cup of coffee, a bite to eat or by playing board games on the concrete. Board games are fun and bring lots of laughter on outreach. Did you know board games have many health benefits such as lowering the risk of mental disease and an increase in cognitive functioning?
Music is another great way to engage with our patrons. Music is inclusive. Whether played by our volunteers or talented friends our Rosies guitars lift everyone up. Music is another joy generator on outreach.
Winter is definitely here. So, Rosies hands out some material necessities to brave the current weather conditions by giving out blankets and sleeping bags. As always the community has been very supportive of our eleven branches. We received an important donation of blankets for the children in our Toowoomba outreach. Meanwhile, BMaD (Bikers Making a Difference) collected and brought sleeping bags, toiletries and canned food to our Drop in Centre on the Gold Coast.
Our coordinator in Caboolture, Helen visited St Benedict’s Primary School at Mango Hill. She talked to the year 3’s about Rosies and thanked them for their generous donations of 155 hygiene packs, 400 cups of noodles, tins of coffee and milo, beanies and packets of UHT milk. The Rosies van was overflowing with bags. The students told Helen they had done a project on Rosies and acted out someone being homeless and Rosies coming along and helping them. Many other schools have shown great support to their local Rosies branch. For instance, Iona College in Wynnum organised a very successful outreach supplies drive in support of our Brisbane, Logan and Wynnum Manly branches.
