Volunteer Voices – Community Care Van Volunteers
We spoke with three dedicated Order of Malta volunteers who generously give their time to serve on our Community Care Vans. Through their stories, we gain a deeper insight into the compassion, commitment and quiet generosity that drive this vital outreach ministry.
The Order of Malta Community Care Vans operate weekly out of Sydney, Parramatta and Melbourne and also have scheduled visits to regional areas, providing practical assistance and human connection to people experiencing homelessness, social isolation and hardship. On each outreach shift, volunteers distribute water, hygiene items, clothing and Coats for the Homeless, and—most importantly—spend time in conversation with those they encounter.
More than a mobile service, the Community Care Vans are a ministry of presence. They create safe and welcoming spaces where individuals are treated with dignity and respect, and where listening can be just as important as material support. For many guests, the vans represent consistency, friendship and hope.
In the reflections that follow, our volunteers reflect on the moments that have touched them most, what inspired them to serve and the profound they see this work have.
Michael is a member of the Order of Malta Australia who regularly volunteers with the Melbourne Community Care Van.
Among the many moments that have stayed with him whilst volunteering, one stands out. On a bitterly cold evening, the outreach team noticed a young man sheltering in a dark doorway, wrapped in a thin blanket. Through tears, he told them he was cold and hungry. The volunteers responded with more than supplies — they offered a warm coat, gloves and a beanie, hot soup and sandwiches, and most importantly, time and conversation.
“As we drove away,” Michael recalls, “he gave us a huge smile and a thumbs up. He looked like the happiest, most grateful man in the world.” The encounter moved one volunteer to reflect on the words of Matthew 25:35–36:
“I was hungry and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you visited me… as you did it to one of the least of these, you did it to me.”
For Michael, the Community Care Van offers more than protection from the cold or relief from hunger. It offers friendship. It offers dignity. It offers presence. Above all, it sends a simple but profound message: you are seen, and someone cares.
Matthew began volunteering in January 2021, inspired by his Christian faith and a desire to live out the Gospel in a practical way. Moved by Christ’s call to serve “the least of these,” he saw the Community Care Van as a simple yet powerful expression of Christian charity — and felt called to be part of that mission.
Since then, what has stayed with him most is how much people value being seen and heard. “Sometimes a bottle of water, a warm coat on a cold night, or a genuine conversation can mean more than anything else we provide,” he shares. “It’s a reminder that dignity and human connection matter just as much as material support.”
Matthew notes that the frequency of the service is key to its success. Every Monday night, the Order of Malta Care Van shows up for the homeless in Parramatta. That consistency builds trust. It creates a sense of community. And in a time of rising living costs and increasing isolation, small acts of kindness can make a real difference in someone’s night.
Volunteer Andrew was inspired to get involved after witnessing the faith and charity of friends and family. “I wanted to live out my faith in service to the community — not just for myself or my loved ones,” he shares. “The Order of Malta van, which operates out of my parish, provides such a great opportunity to do that.
During winter outreach, Andrew remembers meeting people who had only recently become homeless. “Hearing their stories and how difficult it is to adjust to life on the street was confronting,” he says. “I can’t help but believe that the coats we provided not only brought comfort, but in some cases may have saved someone from ill health — or worse.”
For Andrew, the difference the Community Care Van makes is both practical and personal. “Regulars are always happy to see us. Sometimes we have a long chat; sometimes it’s brief. But even a short, positive interaction can mean a lot to someone who is socially isolated. And often the essentials we provide come at the exact moment they’re desperately needed.”
With rising living costs pushing more people into hardship, Andrew believes services like the Community Care Van are more important than ever. “There is a growing demand. I would encourage others to join — it’s serving an area of tremendous need.”
