Salvation Army’s Brisbane Streetlevel team helping Queensland flood victims
Streetlevel volunteers Rachael Welsh and Dale Wallace with team leader Major Bryce Davies (centre) at the Jindalee recovery centre. (Photo: Nathalia Rickwood)
The Salvation Army is offering assistance to victims of the Queensland floods at a recovery centre at Jindalee in south-west Brisbane.
Brisbane Streetlevel Mission team leader, Major Bryce Davies, is leading a group of volunteers in providing hot meals and coffee to hundreds of people. Some of these people are travelling up to 40 minutes to seek assistance.
“There’s about 100 people here all the time, but they’re constantly moving on,” says Major Davies. “It's not an evacuation centre. A recovery centre is a place for people to process their requests for help.”
While Streetlevel is providing a sausage sizzle and coffee, giving the victims an opportunity to talk about their experience is the team’s focus.
“It's interesting what we provide,” says Major Davies. “It's assurance that everything will be all right. It’s a friendly face - the food is a lovely thing to have, but it's an excuse for that interaction. It’s a place to go where you can tell your story and get things off your chest.”
Many of the Streetlevel volunteers have faced their own hardships in life and now feel blessed to be able to help others.
“I can't just sit around and not get involved,” says volunteer Dale Wallace. “There are people out there who have got no electricity and food.”
The Salvation Army is also helping by connecting people to its Family Stores, handing out food vouchers, and providing counselling.
“They’re providing emotional support for people,” says Major Davies. “But it [the recovery centre] is also to refer people to the other services that are around to make sure they are accessing everything that’s available to them. I think that is a critical role and it’s a privilege to be involved in it.”
Assisting The Salvation Army at the recovery centre are the Red Cross, Lifeline, Brisbane City Council and government representatives, and mental health professionals.
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