All our community services and programs are dedicated to our mission – to make a difference in our community by tackling poverty at its root. St Merkorious Charity empowers and motivates the people who come into our care. We operate our different programs and community services to ensure that we can support as many people as we can. We spread kindness through a helping hand, ensuring our communities are safer and healthier than ever by contributing our utmost.
Poverty and homelessness is a continuing issue in Australia. During the 2020-2021 COVID-19 pandemic, 1 in 6 Australians experienced food insecurity as unemployment rose and government support fell.
St Merkorious Charity helps everyone who comes to us in need of help, especially vulnerable populations such as the homeless, financially disadvantaged, migrants, refugees, CALD, the elderly, veterans, the Indigenous, and LGBTQIA+. Everyone can fall into hard straits, and it is then that a kind hand is needed the most.
Our food service feeds the homeless in across 60 suburbs in Sydney, stretching from Mt Druitt in Blacktown to the Sydney CBD. We deliver food for our community members doing it tough, and set up pick-up hubs for hampers at Parramatta Park fortnightly.
For more information on our food relief services, please click here.
Hygiene poverty is a hidden, ongoing crisis in Australia. Every day, many Australians face tough decisions between buying toiletries or hygiene products versus feeding themselves and their family.
No one should face this choice. Hygiene is an essential dignity that should be afforded to everyone, especially if you’re facing vulnerability.
St Merkorious Charity creates Hygiene Hampers to be distributed to the community through our community meals, with special thanks to Share the Dignity for many donations of women’s hygiene products.
With the support of Parramatta Council, women in Parramatta’s Women’s Shelter in 2021 received tailored hygiene packs for the women in their care, much to their delight. We are glad to be able to support them and look forward to working with more sponsors and funding providers to continue this initiative on a wider scale in the future.
St Merkorious Charity understands how educational opportunities can open doors that would never have opened before, empower life, health, stability and hope, and empower a whole new outlook on life and its future prospects. This is why we dedicate one of our community services to uplifting and empowering others through learning.
Part of our core mission is to tackle poverty at its root. One of the best ways to break the chains and cycle of poverty is to give tools and knowledge for people to stand up for themselves.
This is why our charity runs a few classes and educational initiatives that are aimed at empowering our communities, and helping all those our programs have the capacity to support and reach.
For more details on our education programs, please click here.
A kind word and a helping hand go a long way, and as a charity, we understand the utter power a community holds to reach out, connect, and help out others when someone is doing it rough. When a person feels isolated, we are always willing to be there to prove them wrong.
Our community initiatives are designed to support all the individuals who we help and will help with connection, information, celebrations and a spot of cheer. No one should be left behind, and our charity aims to share the bread so that everyone has a share.
From fun fundraising events, community services like volunteering support, or our community choir, we aim to provide our community with a place to connect, bond, and be part of our shared story.
For more details on our community initiatives, please click here.
Every year, we hold various different exciting events to connect our community with joy and fun. Join us!
St Merkorious is grateful for all our volunteers! If you would like to volunteer with our team, register here.
St Merkorious is thankful to all our generous sponsors. If you would like to sponsor our Charity, please call us!
It’s easy to participate and join one of our programs, and contribute to helping our community members in need! Go to our contact us page and call during our business hours. You can also send in an online form, or approach us when we’re out and about in the community. It’s up to you!
Our events and community meals are open to everyone! If you see one of our events pop up, feel free to join in on the fun. We’d love to see you.
No, we’re open to volunteer applications from people of all ages, sizes and abilities. Our charity runs on the kindness of volunteers, and every extra hand helps!
