A seat at the table

Scott Vawser, our WA Chaplain, has volunteered at Christmas Lunch in the Park (CLIP) in Perth for the past nine years. We asked him a bit about his experience and why he keeps coming back.

Q: What’s the most heart-warming thing you’ve heard a guest say about CLIP?

A: This is the best day of my year; it used to be the worst!

Q: What makes CLIP such a special event?

A: We welcome Perth’s most marginalised and disadvantaged people at Christmas. We have individuals who are sleeping rough, families in transitional housing, and older people with nowhere else to go. What is great is no matter your circumstances, you can come to Christmas Lunch in the Park and be among people that care. We offer outreach services for those who need it, provide gifts to children and care packs for the adults. Even though most of us start out as strangers, we all leave as friends. I always sense the love of God as we gather for this beautiful offering of hospitality.

Q: Do you have any favourite memories from volunteers who help on the day?

A: There is a lady who asked if she could volunteer a few years back. Christmas Day was her husband’s favourite day of the year and he had died that year. In his memory she wanted to help us out. She has come for 3 years running and just loves it. She’s a real star.