Interviews and photos available: WEDNESDAY, 16 May 2018, 5:15pm | Harlaxton Park, Cnr Gleeson and Doyle Sts
(vision also available from 4-4:30pm at Neil St entrance of St Saviours College packing the food items)

With the cold winter blast hitting Toowoomba on the weekend, spare a thought for the homeless, or those less fortunate.

Rosies Friends on the Street offer food, hot drinks and friendship to around 170 people at their four outreaches in Toowoomba every week.

Fay Stein from Rosies Toowoomba said patron attendance at local branch outreaches topped 8,500 people in 2017.

75 smiling Rosies volunteers share friendship and create belonging with the homeless, marginalised and lonely of Toowoomba.

This Wednesday night, Toowoomba Grammar School (TGS) is donating five dozen sausages, five dozen strips of bacon, bread rolls, onion and sauce, along with apples, bananas and pears to give Rosies’ patrons a boost as we head into the colder months.

A number of TGS students have volunteered to help prepare, cook and serve the meals, as well as spend some time with the clients.

This is not the first time that TGS has supported Rosies; they organise four BBQs every year for their ‘Friends on the Street’.

The students enjoy giving back to the community and feel good that their small gesture makes such a difference to the lives of these people in need.

And Rosies appreciates the support from TGS.

“While Rosies is providing a warming coffee, milo, or cuppa soup, wonderful collaborators like TGS students extend the hospitality to a great BBQ and other goodies,” said Andrew O’Brien, Rosies General Manager.

“Their youthful enthusiasm and genuine interest adds wonderfully to the sense of community.”

Rosies is expecting a tough winter, with more people in need than ever before and are they’re calling on support and donations from the local community.

“Many of Rosies patrons have personal needs such as hygiene supplies and bedding,” said Mr O’Brien.

“We’d also love donations of 1kg tins of coffee and milo, cordial, sugar, biscuits, cup-a-soups and noodles.”

You can also donate funds to supply a backpack bed which are perfectly designed for those sleeping rough or couch surfing.

Rosies would also like to extend its service to another location on a Tuesday night, but need to expand their volunteer base to at least 100.

If you would like to make up those number, register online here.