A message from Carole
“On behalf of those you help, I want to thank you for your care, love and dedication. You helped me many years ago when I was really in need and I have never forgotten!”
We recently received this heartwarming message from Carole, a grandmother who’s about to turn 80 and remains a passionate supporter of our work.
Her story dates back almost to the beginning of Hutt St Centre, when 258 Hutt Street was called St Louise’s House and was run by the Daughters of Charity.
Carole shared that the Sisters had a life-changing impact on her family back in 1965 – barely a decade after our doors first opened to people in need. Carole told us:
“Back then, I was living near Hutt Street and I was going through a really hard time. I was just a young single mum with two boys and we were struggling… Any money I had went on rent and bills. We were barely scraping by.
Until one day, my son came home from school with an armful of bread and fruit buns. He told me it came from ‘The nice ladies over the road – the ones who dress funny.’
From then on, he would often stop and talk to the Sisters as they were handing out food to people doing it tough in the area. It didn’t seem to matter whether or not we were Catholic – they helped us anyway.
Then one day near Christmas there was a knock on our door. When I opened it, there was a fella dressed as Father Christmas standing on our doorstep. He told me the Sisters had sent him with presents for the boys.
It was wonderful to see their little faces light up. It came at a time when I was really down and depressed. I couldn’t afford much for them – in fact, I couldn’t afford anything at all that Christmas. I felt life had given me a bitter pill to swallow, so it just came at the right time to give me hope again.
Now my son, who used to come home with armfuls of food, has just turned 61. And I’ve remembered that kindness all these years. It came out of the blue and I think the boys have never really forgotten it either.
I’ve kept up with what’s happening at the Centre over the years and I always send a donation when I can. It means a lot to be able to return the kindness I was shown when my family needed it. You receive and you give back, that’s what life is all about.
I hope this story can help other people who might be feeling a bit down too. It’s a reminder not to give up hope. Just a little bit of help at the right time made a big difference for me and my family. Thank you so much for that.”
A huge thank you to Carole for allowing us to share this beautiful story with you, and thank you to our amazing supporters who continue to bring hope to people when they need it most.
Image of St Louise’s House in 1965 courtesy of the State Library of South Australia (B-16143)
