Kindness saves the day
HAVING lost his job during COVID-19, while also dealing with his youngest daughter’s recent type 1 diabetes diagnosis, Geelong’s Christian McCarter had hit a low.
Feeling helpless, the 41year-old reached out to family and friends, but received no response from his inner circle.
With no other choice, Mr McCarter turned to the general public, through social media to ask for help.
“I woke up in the morning to around 80 messages from strangers willing to help out,” he said. “I was completely blown away.”
One of those people to offer a helping hand was Feed Me Bellarine co-founder Anthony Woodbury.
After coming across Mr McCarter’s online plea, Mr Woodbury immediately got in touch to offer him six months’ worth of food.
“He told me more of his story and broke down with shame and embarrassment,” Mr Woodbury said.
“He was living in his mum’s property — which was an office, not a home. The kids didn’t have a proper sink, or oven to cook out of.”
Having also recently received a type 1 diabetic diagnosis himself, Mr Woodbury was determined to restore Mr
McCarter’s place and help rebuild his family’s life.
So far he has built two new bedrooms for Mr McCarter’s daughters Ellie, 7, and Alexis, 10, along with organising a proper bathroom and kitchen.
Mr Woodbury said his charity, which currently supplies around 3500 meals a week to families across the region in need, helps “anyone and everyone no matter the reason”.
“One of our biggest sayings is vulnerability is strength,” Mr Woodbury said. “There are so many people out there that don’t ask for help and leave it until it’s too late.
“It’s OK to ask for help — there is more strength being able to drop your pride to ask.”
Mr McCarter said the help he has received from Mr Woodbury’s has changed his life.
“I’ve just been scraping by and been trying to turn this place from office into a home for years,” he said.
“This has given me hope that we’ll finally get there.”
To assist or donate to Mr McCarter’s rebuild, contact feedmebellarine@gmail.com.