The past six months have provided opportunities for the Holy Trinity Eastern Suburbs Conference in Wellington, to provide new and existing clients with the assistance they need, when they need it. 

It’s also provided real insight into, firstly, the value of collaboration and coordination between Parish, Conference members and Vinnie’s service staff in Newtown; and secondly, how a targeted and specific approach helps inspire members and clients alike.

With the on-set of Level 4 lockdown in March 2020, our Conference used our existing client lists, Parish Office referrals of elderly and isolated parishioners, the Vinnies social worker referrals and Conference member knowledge to identify 180 clients to check-in on under lockdown conditions.           

We then used 14 members (active members, associates and prospective members) to undertake check-in phone calls and find out whether there was any specific lockdown needs such as food supply, clothing or child/baby needs, bedding, encouragement through the stress of it all, advocacy, or on-going check-up calls.

Overall, there was overwhelmingly positive feedback on the outreach from Vinnies which was also seen as representative of being part of a caring Parish.  Many practical needs were identified, such as nine households requiring weekly food parcels which, once referred by us, were delivered by the Vinnies vans from nearby Newtown. These services continued into Alert Levels 3 and 2, sometimes requiring our own Conference members to do deliveries.  As parishioners heard of the initiative through the grapevine and our notices in the online weekly parish newsletters, more food/household items and money were donated directly to help these clients.  Families with children who needed school items and clothing were also identified and, as we progressed to Alert Level 1, it was possible for one of our members to take these families shopping to secure necessary supplies.

We have all long known that often the most effective services are those that require coordination to fulfil a range of needs.  These needs also require more than one person or group involved in order to achieve the best outcomes.  Conversely, it is often a lack of coordination that provides the most frustration for those in most need who have multiple needs.  COVID-19 gave us an opportunity to showcase the value of Parish Office staff, priests, parishioners, our Conference members and Vinnies Welfare Centre staff working together – it was inspiring for all involved.

Tina Quidilla and Annette Bridgman | Holy Trinity Eastern Suburbs Conference Members