Demand for soup kitchen meals up
THE past months have been busy for Tony Hurle and the volunteers at Homeless Outreach Services.
Every night up to 40 homeless and at-risk people visit the soup kitchen for an evening meal and those numbers are set to increase.
“We are seeing a lot of new faces,” Mr Hurle said.
“Demand is up on last year and with COVID-19 there is an increase in our food service.
“That will only get worse in the coming months.
“We have a lot of people sleeping in their cars after they have lost their job.”
With a rough winter ahead, Mr Hurle welcomed riders from the Eureka Riders motorcycle club who rolled into the soup kitchen on Saturday hauling blankets, warm clothes and food.
Club treasurer Paul Casey said the impromptu ride started with four blokes about two weeks back but ballooned to about 20.
“We rode from Toowoomba to Goodna, picked up some friends from the Gold Coast and Caboolture and then rode back to Toowoomba,” he said
“Everyone should put their hand out and give people who are less fortunate a hand up.
“We are riding bikes so we are in a reasonably good paddock so there is no reason why we should not share.”
This was the first time the Eureka club held a charity ride and it is already planning to make it annual.
The club was confident it could get up to 200 riders from across south east Queensland when the COVID-19 restrictions ease.
It is something Mr Hurle welcomed with gusto.
“It is wonderful to know the community is behind what we do,” he said.
“We have a beautiful, generous city that provides for people who need it the most.”
michael.nolan@thechronicle.com.au