School friends join forces to help locals in need

A soup stall fundraiser after the Anzac Day dawn service in Helensburgh, south of Sydney, was a big success.

During their school holiday period, friends Addi, Lacy, Keira and Heidi found out about the work of their local Salvation Army and decided they wanted to help. During Anzac Day week, the four baked and sold Anzac cookies and helped their parents at a Salvos Soup Stall.

Lacy Carroll heard about the work of the local 2508 Salvos mission in town from her mum, who works for Equilibrium Healthcare in Helensburgh, south of Sydney.  

Earlier this year, Equilibrium Healthcare partnered with 2508 Salvos by generously offering Mission Leader Lauren Martin and Community Caseworker Niasha Love the use of a consulting room at the centre when needed. 

Equilibrium Health nurse Jackie Carroll, with Donna Quayle and Lauren Martin, at the Anzac Day soup stall she organised.

“This has been wonderful,” says Lauren. “We don’t have an office space in Helensburgh, and we can’t afford to rent one. Partnering with Equilibrium Healthcare has allowed us to meet community members in a confidential, professional space to talk about what is going on in their lives and how The Salvation Army, or other referral agencies, might be able to assist.”

It has also paved the way for doctors and other health professionals at Equilibrium Healthcare to encourage people in need to make an appointment with The Salvation Army. As a result, several patients are now receiving assistance and support from the Salvos.

Equilibrium Healthcare nurse Jackie Carroll could see how the Salvos were bringing hope to the local community and became passionate about assisting through fundraising. She suggested to her daughter, Lacy, that they hold an Anzac biscuit stall in front of the centre during the week of Anzac Day.

It was a huge hit! Lacy involved friends Addi Forbes and Heidi Brassett-Xavier and said she had lots of fun using the EFTPOS machine and wanted to be part of helping people in need, like people experiencing homelessness. 

Friends Addi Forbes, Lacy Carroll, and Keira Quayle got together on their school holidays to fundraise for their local Salvos.

On Anzac Day, another friend, Keira Quayle, joined them and their parents for a Soup Stall after the Anzac Day dawn service.

“It was really fun, and I liked to see what people liked to eat what we had on the soup table,” Addi said, adding that she felt it was important to assist The Salvation Army “because they help the homeless.”

Keira said it was wonderful to “sell all the nice soups to people and to get all the money to donate to the poor.”

2508 Salvos Mission Leader Lauren Martin said: “This amazing group of friends, and their parents, raised just over $1,000 for our local Red Shield Appeal, which is incredible because everything we do here is funded through donations and fundraisers.”

If you or your business would like to partner with the Salvos or to find out more about what The Salvation Army does in the 2508 area, contact Mission Leader Lauren Martin: lauren.martin@salvationarmy.org.au

Heidi Brassett-Xavier with mum Bron and Lacy Carroll with mum Jackie at the Anzac Day stall they organised at their workplace, Equilibrium Healthcare, in Helensburgh, south of Sydney.