On Thursday 22 May 2025, more than 200 Vinnies Soup Van volunteers, supporters, members and friends gathered at Melbourne Town Hall for a special thank-you event honouring the 5,000+ Vinnies Soup Van volunteers who have served over the years.

From a group of young people serving vegetable soup in Fitzroy 1975 to a service that now provides over 800,000 meals a year to people from all walks of life.  

The Vinnies Soup Van service was established on 26 June 1975. This year we celebrate a service that has brought food and friendship to thousands living on the streets and in boarding houses across Victoria.

We thank the 5,000+ volunteers (known affectionately as Vannies) who have been part of the Vinnies Soup Vans' 50 year journey and touched the lives of so many, giving them hope.

Sadly Vinnies Sunshine located at 56 Station Place, Sunshine is closing on 1 June 2025.

We thank all our volunteers and customers for their support over the years. 

There are still Vinnies Shops nearby so come see us at Vinnies Braybrook or Vinnies Footscray to find those special treasures. Hope to see you soon. 

This National Volunteer Week, we celebrate the extraordinary people who bring our mission to life – our volunteers.

Across Victoria, more than 10,000 dedicated individuals give their time, compassion and care to support people doing it tough. Whether it’s through a warm meal, a home visit, a conversation or a helping hand – you are there.

The 2025 theme, ‘Connecting Communities,’ speaks directly to your impact. Every action you take helps build stronger, kinder, more connected communities across our state.

Whether you’re sorting in our shops, cooking in our kitchens, mentoring young people or simply offering a listening ear – your generosity ripples far beyond the moment.

You make our good works possible and you remind us daily that community, hope and dignity start with people like you.

From all of us at St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria – thank you. We’re so proud and grateful to have you as part of the Vinnies family.

Abigail and Isabella grew up in a volatile household that was ultimately upended when their parents separated. This resulted in them moving interstate with their mother where they were isolated from family and friends.

Their situation did not improve with housing instability and anxiety levels rising. The sisters were left with no choice but to spend a period of time living out of a car.

The experience of having no fixed address saw the sisters move back to live with their father in the hope of stability. Unfortunately, what they returned to was an overcrowded apartment that offered no respite from the trauma they had endured.

Eventually the sisters were accepted for temporary accommodation which put them in touch with Vinnies.

Since then the sisters' life have stabilised and keeps getting better.

Rick, never imagined life would turn out this way. After health issues, a divorce and financial hardship he lost his home and now sleeps in his car during the week, parked near his worksite. On weekends, he retreats to an old caravan in an isolated park 25 kilometres from the nearest town where he can stretch out and get some rest.

A chance meeting with our soup vans has made a huge difference for Rick. Initially with the provision of basic needs like food and now more substantially with ongoing support.

 “I never thought hot soup could mean so much, but it did. It made me feel like someone actually cared.”

Bec’s life changed forever due to her husband’s violent outbursts. Escaping from her home, Bec was battered, bruised and fearing for her life but determined to find safety even though her options were painfully limited.

With nowhere else to go, Bec – being in her mid-forties – made the tough decision to live out of her car which she felt was the safest option.

A chance encounter with one of our soup vans changed Bec's life by providing urgent essentials and then working through other issues.  

"I’m so grateful not just for the food but for the reminder that I’m not alone in this."

VincentCare's team provided a network of support to ensure Harry found stability, dignity and peace of mind.

For more than 14 years, Harry* lived in a precarious housing situation, renting a room in Brunswick West with a former colleague who owned the property. While this arrangement initially provided him with a place to stay, over time, his living conditions became increasingly difficult.

Harry faced significant restrictions in his home, such as being unable to turn on the heater in shared spaces and his privacy was frequently invaded, with his housemate entering his room unannounced. Without a formal lease or rental receipts, Harry lived in constant fear of eviction, unsure of his rights and options. His fear of standing up to his former colleague left him feeling powerless and isolated.