Parties with layers of purpose at Salvation Army crisis centre
Children enjoy various activities at the Centennial Lodge Community breakfast. (Photo supplied by Centennial Lodge)
The breakfasts are a big party - we really make it big so that [the kids] walk into the room and go, ‘wow, we didn’t realise it would be this good’. It is something very special in the middle of what is often a very hard time in their lives.
—Salvation Army Major Melba Crisostomo
There were bales of hay, real ducks and chickens in an enclosure and even a homemade “cow” complete with gloves for udders. But, most importantly, there were around 120 delighted kids and parents/carers at the “Fun on the Farm” themed community breakfast at The Salvation Army’s Centennial Lodge homelessness crisis centre in Cairns.
The breakfasts, held monthly between February and November, are not only a firm favourite with Cairns locals, but also extra special to the children staying at the centre.
Started four years ago, the breakfasts have developed to give homeless children who are living short term at the crisis centre with their mothers, the chance to mix in their own temporary “home” with local children. The breakfasts also serve to help maintain ongoing contact with the families who have moved on from the service.
“It is critically important that the kids in crisis care experience some joy,” Salvation Army Centennial Lodge team leader Elizabeth Marshall says. “They all love the breakfasts.”
Each breakfast also serves as an outreach with an interactive devotional. In keeping with the “Fun on the Farm” theme, the children and families learned from the parables of the farmer and the seed.
According to Centennial Lodge women’s service manager, Salvation Army Major Melba Crisostomo, a significant percentage of the women with children have come from situations of domestic violence. Others have had problems with drugs and alcohol, financial problems, and loss of accommodation.
“Whatever the problems in the family, the children are often really affected,” says Major Crisostomo.
Helping with referrals to counsellors and assisting with school enrolments and acquiring uniforms are important, say the staff at Centennial, but they also believe that a simple bit of fun and friendship is just as vital.
At the same events, recent birthdays are also celebrated.
“We make it special for them because some don’t celebrate birthdays,” says Major Crisostomo.
“These are things that are taken for granted in families that can afford it, but even for them to receive a present is something very special.
“[The experience] becomes a part of the children who stay with us and friends, and friends of friends, then start coming. We have lots who have been attending for four years. They just continue to come. It is very special.”
The parties are not all about the children. The service also runs a women’s ministry night twice a year.
“A year ago we also started the women’s ministry; the last one had a ‘boot-scooting’ theme,” explains Major Crisostomo.
“We came in our cowboy gear and we contacted a group to teach us how to boot-scoot. We had a band, plus a contact from another church who is doing her own CD.
“We do a short talk and every time we run a night we have comments at the end about how much they enjoyed it. They say ‘it is inspirational … that we can have fun in a church program and even crisis accommodation can be beautiful’.”
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