It was my first day and I remember meeting a middle-aged man living alone in his Nundah apartment. I knocked on his door and the door opened to his dimly lit home. It was obvious the unemployment was taking a toll - not only to his health but to his sense of worth and hope.
And as I lifted up and offered him the Nexus Care food parcel, well, I’ll never forget the look on his face.
“The sheer relief as I handed over the food... it was as if he could take a breath”
The sheer relief as I handed over the food - it was as if he could take a breath.
It was at this moment I knew why Nexus Care existed.
When Nexus Care began in 2011, the need on our doorstep was becoming evident. Neighbouring suburbs such as Chermside, Keperra and Stafford reported higher poverty rates yet there was a distinct lack of local support services on hand.
In our research and planning, we could see that those in hardship were struggling to afford basic, everyday groceries and would either access highly-processed food or in some cases, go without.
And so, Nexus Care’s Fresh Start Food Program began with a passion to offer high-quality services and education together with genuine care and dignity for each person. Now in 2019, we have celebrated supplying healthy food to a modest estimation of over 10,500 people since we opened.
Nexus Care has further expanded over the years to include School Breakfast Programs, Emergency Financial Relief, Community Connection Initiatives and so much more. All of this not possible without the generosity of donors and the dedicated team of staff, volunteers and suppliers that join us in this mission.
Nexus Care’s heart is far more than delivering a physical provision to those in need. For us, it’s about offering a genuine hand in the midst of challenging situations and that we may play a part in encouraging a person to hope once more, and find a fresh start.
Josh Plumb
Executive Manager
