A mother finds compassion and respect
Margaret first heard about Bay Leaf through a counsellor she was seeing after a dramatic life change. She says she was initially too ashamed and anxious to attend, but Martin was persistent with his invitation.
When she eventually arrived with her daughter, Archdiocesan Deacon Royden D’Souza—a Bay Leaf volunteer who helps with pastorial care—made them feel welcome. ‘I told [Martin and Deacon Royden] a little bit about my story. At that time, you know, I hadn’t told a lot of people. I was going through the court system, which was a very traumatic time for me, and they just made me feel comfortable.’
‘Bay Leaf is not just a building, it’s a place where you are respected. There is compassion here, there is help, someone to listen to you, and there’s lots of love here.’
Eventually, Margaret began volunteering with Bay Leaf Community Kitchen, again at Martin’s suggestion. ‘I don’t know if he regrets it now, because I’m bossing him around all day with lists and things,’ she laughs.
Bay Leaf is not just a building, it’s a place where you are respected. There is compassion here, there is help, someone to listen to you, and there’s lots of love here.
She says her work has given her a renewed sense of purpose after a period marked by stress, anxiety and concern for her much-loved daughter.
‘My role here is to help and assist others, to care for others, and make sure that everyone is okay, and being a part of a team, just continuing the great work that we do.’
The organisation’s community support extends beyond the kitchen. Volunteers and staff deliver food, visit people who cannot attend and check on families in crisis, Margaret says. ‘We go out to people’s homes, not only with food, but we spend time with them.
‘The Bay Leaf team is a team of people that have values and morals, beliefs, and faith.’