On a chilly August evening, eight members of the Queensland Axalta team spent a night on the streets in support of the Basement Soup Kitchen in Toowoomba, as part of “Homeless for a Night”. This night provided an opportunity for participants to join Nat Spray from Basement Soup Kitchen on the first day of his “Homeless for a Week” venture.
The purpose of the night was to raise awareness of homelessness in Toowoomba and much needed funds to allow the Basement Soup Kitchen to continue to provide free lunch time meals, swags, homeless food hampers, clothing, hygiene packs, case management and access to outreach support services.
The team joined roughly 100 other participants as they roughed it on the streets of Toowoomba. Throughout the night, they were given a glimpse into the hardships of the homeless by experiencing the difficulties of finding a place to sleep and the challenges of spending a long night in cold temperatures. To give a further glimpse into the adversities the homeless face daily, the participants were given a chance to meet and chat to those who were homeless. Before making camp at an old railway station, the participants were able to warm up with a soup from the Basement Soup Kitchen, a meal that is sometimes the only food a homeless person will eat in a day.
The Axalta team was pleased to be able to be a part of the night. Of the experience, Stephen Morris, Axalta Territory Business Manager said: “It was an eye-opening experience that really highlighted this major problem and also gave us a better understanding of what the homeless encounter on a daily basis.”