12 June 2020
#storiesofhope – Chappy Di shares baskets of fruit with her community
Posted in Bring Hope / Chaplaincy
In times of uncertainty and fear, hope is the antidote – and your chaplains are there to share that message with children and their families. Visit suqld.org.au/bringhope to find out how you can help keep this vital mission going!
A few weeks ago, Chappy Di was able to support 9 local families by hand-delivering fruit baskets to their doorstep.
“The fruit baskets were a way to keep up with vulnerable families without being invasive – and it was also a great opportunity to check in on the kids. It was beautiful to see how excited these families were when they saw us arrive,” says Chappy Di.
“I’m so glad to have partnered with the well-being team at school to prepare these hampers. They were the ones who came up with the idea of filling them with fruit (bananas, apples, mandarins, pineapples, grapes and kiwi), because if the students were still at school, they would have received fruit as part of our Breakfast Club program.”
For one special family who were struggling, Chappy Di partnered with a local charity, Hidden Treasure, to deliver a stroller and an extra food hamper.
“This beautiful mum never would have asked, but when we showed up with the stroller and the food, she was so thankful. She said “You’re gonna make me cry.” You could see the joy on her face when a need was filled – she knew it was a genuine gift, and that there were no strings attached.”
“The whole hamper-process really showed me that this season can be used for good. God opened the way with the well-being team at school, and it was definitely a community effort.”
Chappy Di has had a lifetime of experience working in insurance, human resources and more, but knew that God was guiding her towards a future in chaplaincy.
“I’ve worked in a variety of jobs and that’s given me a lot of experience and skills. By the time I’d completed my SU Training and was working in a school, I had a sensitivity for people built into me,” says Chappy Di.
“It’s funny, looking back, I can see that I was guided towards a chaplaincy role long before I became a chaplain. There were domestic violence cases in some of the factories I worked at, and I did training with migrant women. Those sorts of situations taught me how to be a really good listener.”
“As a chaplain, I’m an impartial voice and that’s why the kids will share with me. They know I’m listening to them, and listening is not judging.”
“This COVID-19 season has been an eye-opener. Visiting those families has given me a new perspective in my role of caring for families. It’s shown me that it’s important to take a moment to see what’s going on behind the scenes. There’s often a lot more going on than you realise.”
It’s because of you that Chappies like Di can bring encouragement and support to their communities. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of others – visit suqld.org.au/donate for more ways to show your support.
