Just four people turned up the first night free meals were on offer at the Ron Moore community centre in Minto.
An initiative of young members of the congregation at the two Campbelltown Coptic Orthodox churches, it quickly grew as word got around.
Three months into the weekly service, which is called Christian Aid, around 60 people are served a full meal.
Last Tuesday night, the mayor of Campbelltown, George Greiss, Cathy Chopping from the Macarthur Homelessness Steering Committee, and parish priests from the two local Coptic churches, visited the community centre to see for themselves the good deeds taking place.
While serving food is still the main part of the service, Christian Aid has quickly expanded to offer other forms of help to the families and homeless individuals that come into the community centre every Tuesday night between 7.30pm and 8.30pm.
We are introduced to social worker Vicky Valanidas, who reveals that she drives from Arncliffe to offer her services for free.
“Right now, I am helping a fellow into housing, and we’re just about there with that,’’ she tells the South West Voice.
Clothing, blankets, food hampers, reading to children and games onsite are just some of the extra services being provided since the meal nights started.
We ask Cathy Chopping about the people that would attend such a service.
“It’s just struggling families, as well as people who are homeless or couch surfing,’’ she says.
“This a much needed service.’’
Despite the expansion into other forms of help, the biggest task of Charity Aid every Tuesday night remains preparing and serving 50-60 meals in the Ron Moore community centre.
However, the team of young people wearing Christian Aid tops are on top of this though and everything seems to run smoothly.
Eventually the special guests from this Tuesday night depart, but next day we hear that the young people behind this wonderful initiative appreciated that their hard work was being noticed.
More importantly, they would appreciate the community supporting them by donating things like blankets.
For more information, please visit the Christian Aid website.
