Meet Sarah and Ava
“She’s a runner,” Sarah said as her two-year old daughter Ava jumped down from her chair and started to “cut laps” around the parking lot where the Rosies Logan Outreach occurs each week. 
Sarah and Ava have been frequent visitors at our Logan Outreach since shortly after Ava was born. Sarah was drawn to Rosies to connect with others after her daughter’s birth; as a single mum she struggled with isolation but found comfort on outreach.
Sarah often spends time on outreach in the company of Judy and Ryan, two regular patrons. On this occasion, Ryan spent most of the outreach chasing after Ava trying to grab hold of the soft pink and purple butterfly leash backpack she wears as Ava cackled with delight.
“For a few hours each week I get a break from having to do everything myself and I don’t feel alone. Ava is well looked after and I can just sit and chat with everyone,” Sarah said.
She continued, “I’d been doing better financially so I stopped coming for a few weeks. I didn’t want to come and take things or accept food if other people needed it. But I noticed my mental health is better when I come. I can relax and just enjoy the good company. I feel safe here.”
Kate who has been volunteering with Rosies since May of last year said, “We always try and give Sarah extra things for her and Ava, but she will never accept it – she only takes what she needs and doesn’t want others to miss out.”
Looking out for the needs of others is often something our volunteers witness on outreach. “I’ve often given a blanket to a patron only to watch them give it to someone else ‘who needs it more’ or take apart a toiletry pack and hand back the items they don’t need. Some of them have so little but they are always happy to share or give to someone else,” Kate said.
The Logan Outreach is a wonderful example of what makes Rosies special, a group of strangers coming together finding commonality, connection and friendship.
