Hi, my name is Kaira, I’m a Support Worker at the Compassion Soup Kitchen. I wanted to take a moment to reach out and tell you how your support is helping vulnerable people in some really amazing ways that you might not even be aware of!
While we continue to provide warm kai and friendly conversation to more and more people every day, your support also allows us to provide additional support to whānau as they navigate various challenges in their lives.
Having grown up in West Auckland and seeing firsthand some of the hardships our whānau endure, my personal experiences have instilled in me a deep sense of empathy and understanding.
As a Support Worker the heart of my role is centred around socializing, listening, and providing companionship. Each interaction helps build trust and creates a space where they feel valued and cared for.
Getting whānau to open up and trust me is not always easy. Whānau can sometimes feel that people don’t understand or respect them and that’s where a lot of mistrust comes from.
I once saw someone pour their milkshake out on one of our whānau who was sleeping rough on Courtenay Place. That goes to show how little respect some people have for the homeless. It really breaks my heart, but when you hear stories like that you start to understand why they can find it difficult to trust.
Some issues whānau face can be easily resolved, for example someone might tell me they’ve had a terrible sleep because they are cold, so I can grab them a warmer sleeping bag or a winter coat from our clothing room. But around 10 times a week I will refer a whānau member for additional support. Whether it’s for housing services, mental health support or other services, I can steer them towards the assistance they need.
At the Compassion Soup Kitchen we see all types of people – men, women and sometimes even children. I’ve helped with several situations involving domestic abuse by finding safe accommodation for women whose partners are threatening them with violence.
One whānau member told me she was going to set up her tent in the bush for the night, I told her no, I need to know you are safe!
Many whānau members also struggle with alcohol and drug addiction issues. I can help by referring them to specialised programmes for substance abuse. But I know dealing with addiction on the streets is hard. I am here to support them regardless of their choices.
I can honestly say that the time I spend at the Compassion Soup Kitchen is the highlight of my day. The connections I have made here are genuine – I really care about these people. I do my best to be a safe place to share their burden and help in any ways that I am able.
Thank you for helping to make this support possible and thank you for all that you do to support people in our community who are so often forgotten.
Please consider donating today to continue supporting our whānau who struggle with intergenerational trauma, addiction, and social isolation. They can feel so alone but together we can help to relieve that burden.
Sincerely,
Kaira Mitchell
Kaimanaaki – Support Worker
Compassion Soup Kitchen
Please Support Our Soup Kitchen Appeal Today
Ways to donate
Use our account name: Soup Kitchen Appeal
Account number: BNZ 02-1269-0046022-02
REF: Your name
CODE: Donation
If you have any queries you can email us on donations@compassion.org.nz
Or call 04 595 5803.
Alternatively, you can post your donation to Compassion Soup Kitchen, PO Box 1474, Wellington 6140.
