Every day, more people are turning to Parramatta Mission for support. With your help, we can grow to meet this rising need — together.
Your donation today can help provide meals, crisis relief, and connections to services that empower people to find stability, dignity, and hope.

Just last month, a young family came to us after hearing about our food hampers. The mother, Denise, had taken time off work to care for their three young children and support their eldest daughter, Mali, as she started school. Her husband, Dario, was working, but with rising rent and grocery prices, they simply couldn’t make ends meet.

By the time they walked through our doors, the pressure was immense.

They were skipping meals—sometimes for days—just so their children could eat. Denise quietly admitted she’d often cried when opening the fridge, wondering how she would get through another week.

That first hamper made an immediate difference. “It felt like someone finally saw us,” she said. The food was important—but so too was the message
that they weren’t alone. Denise began returning each week, collecting groceries and essentials that helped stretch their budget just a little further.

When Dario came with her on one visit, our staff encouraged him to apply for a construction traineeship with one of our employment partners. He got the role. At the same time, we helped the family negotiate with their landlord, preventing another rent increase that would have pushed them past breaking point.

Since then, Dario has moved into a better job, the family has caught up on bills, and the children are eating well and thriving.

“It’s still tough with prices going up, but now we’re managing. That little bit of help gave us the push we needed,” Denise said.

Their daughter, Mali, added quietly, “Mummy smiles more now and the nice people at the Mission give me and my brother yummy treats.”

Stories like this show us what’s possible when the right support is available at the right time. And right now, more people than ever need that support.

Your gift today can help more people like Denise and her family get the support they need to get back on their feet.