Making a difference through small acts of kindness

For Kathy Doyle, volunteering is not about grand gestures. It is about showing up, serving a hot meal, and offering a friendly smile to someone who might be having a difficult time.

Kathy originally grew up in Port Augusta before moving to Adelaide as a teenager. Her path to Vinnies SA was a natural progression of her personal values and a desire to help others.

In her forties, she took the brave step to return to study, earning an accounting degree from Flinders University. This achievement led her to volunteer with the finance team at Ozanam House, which later turned into permanent employment. She has now been part of the Vinnies staff for 12 years.

However, Kathy’s commitment to the community extends far beyond her paid work, because Kathy has been volunteering in the homelessness sector since 1998, when a friend invited her to help with a soup van.

In 2022, she extended her service by joining the Fred’s Van team to assist with the dinner service at the Vinnies Men’s Crisis Centre.

Every week, Kathy helps prepare and serve a variety of hearty meals, ranging from casseroles and schnitzels to fresh fruit and desserts. For Kathy, the menu is only one part of the service, though, with the greatest value being found in the connection established across the counter.

Smiling faces and brightened days

"I really enjoy it," Kathy says. "The men are going through a pretty rough time, so if I can be a friendly, welcoming face at the end of the day, then that might hopefully lighten their load, or brighten their day."

Kathy says the men are always appreciative of the meals and the conversation. In the spirit of Vinnies ethos, which is based upon dignity and respect, Kathy and her fellow workers make a point of asking how their day is going, ensuring every person who walks through the door feels seen and cared about.

"Some like to chat, and I like to take an interest in how their day is going, which I hope helps them to feel like they are valued and important, because they possibly don’t feel that way. "

As a parishioner at the Church of the Holy Name in Stepney, Kathy draws her quiet strength from her faith.

"I’m tired at the end of the day, but my inspiration comes from Matthew 25:35-40, where Jesus says: ‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat… whatever you did  for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for Me’," Kathy says.

"I believe in faith in action. To me it doesn’t matter how the men have ended up in the situation they are in, but they need help, and I hope that in some small way I am contributing towards that."

If you would like to find out about volunteering at Vinnies SA, please visit the Vinnies SA website at: https://www.vinnies.org.au/get-involved/volunteering