The Drop-In Case Work Programme

Hannah Kelly

The Drop-In Case Work Programme is designed to provide one-off or short-term case management support to women coming to Lou’s Place. Unlike traditional support models, there is no restriction on how many times a woman can seek assistance. 

 Key focuses of the programme include: 

• crisis stabilisation

• addressing immediate needs

• homelessness support

• reducing systemic barriers.

There has been a significant increase in demand for urgent assistance over the past year. This reflects the broader socio-economic challenges faced by women: homelessness, domestic and family violence, financial distress, and health-related crises. 

Many women who come to Lou’s Place face complex, intersecting challenges* that require a flexible and responsive service model. Our team works to ensure that every woman receives the support she needs to stabilise her situation and move toward a more secure future.

*Intersectionality: refers to how different social categories—such as race, gender, class, sexual orientation, and ability—sometimes interact and create obstacles that are often not understood within conventional ways of thinking. (Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw, 1989)

Volunteer profile: Massage Therapy

Deb is a volunteer who provides massage once a week. She has been part of the volunteer team for four years. She answered a few questions about her volunteer role.

What drew you to work at Lou’s Place?

I had always been interested the potential of massage for healing and enhancing feelings of calmness and well-being. Having experienced a very difficult time of grief, I knew first-hand how intentional touch can bring about a sense of calm and settle the mind or invigorate the body and lift mood. 

What are the challenges of providing massage therapy at Lou’s?

When I first started volunteering at Lou's, I was sometimes confronted by some of the women's stories about their lives. Some are so heartbreaking. I have learned to listen, but never to comment or give advice. I want them to see me as an empathetic person who is not a social worker or person connected to the judicial system, but instead a person who can show them a small window into investing in their own sense of wellbeing, no matter how challenging other areas of their lives might be at that time.

How do you think massage therapy helps the women who come to see you? 

Massage can be expensive, and many of the women who come to Lou's might not be able to access it elsewhere. It is often seen as a luxury, but of course it is so much more than that. In its most simplified form, it is a method of reducing stress, lessening pain and tightness, increasing relaxation and improving mood. 

However, it is also a means of providing human touch and warmth that is safe, non-sexual and not in any way transactional. 

What do you like about volunteering at Lou’s?

Coming to Lou’s is one of the bright spots in my week. I love the energy of the women and the other volunteers. I see so many positive influences at Lou's Place and I am so thankful that I have been given the opportunity to give something of myself and share my skills. 

How do you think massage therapy helps the women who come to see you? 

Some women love to chat, while others slip into the 'twilight zone' where they are not quite asleep but deeply relaxed. On occasion, I massage women who are highly stressed or agitated. Their bodies can be very rigid and tense and they are often in a state of heightened vigilance, with a fast pulse and shallow, irregular breathing. It is one of my great joys as a massage therapist to work with these women, who after a half-hour massage begin to relax, and in some cases, fall asleep on the table. Testament indeed to them feeling safe and secure.

Save The Date: Lou's Circle

Lou's Closet May 2025

About Lou’s Closet

Lou’s Closet is back for 2025 and will take place from 1-3 May at The Tramsheds in Sydney.

Lou’s Closet is a designer and second-hand clothes sale. It was created by women to help ALL women in need.

The Closet is a community-driven event that raises funds which go directly to support the women who visit Lou’s Place in Redfern. Many of these women experience homelessness, domestic violence and financial hardship as well as mental health and addiction issues.

Funds help save and change lives of these mums, daughters, sisters, aunts, grandmas, nieces, partners and friends.

May 2025 Event Details

The Tramsheds, 1 Dalgal Way Forest Lodge, NSW 2037

• Thursday 1 May, 9am-7pm ($10 entry)

• Friday 2 May, 9am-6pm ($10 entry)

• Saturday 3 May, 9am-3pm (free entry)

Event link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1122392910409?aff=oddtdtcreator

Donating Clothes

If you’d like to contribute your designer or vintage wear to Lou’s Closet, then please get in touch with the wonderful Eugenie: eugenie@lousplace.com.au

#louscloset @louscloset_sydney

Lou’s marks its 25th birthday celebration

This year, Lou’s Place hit a major milestone— its 25th birthday. And like any great celebration, there was plenty of cake, fun and reflection. During the day, we celebrated with clients, serving up a special BBQ lunch and cake, culminating in a few rowdy games of Bingo. That evening, we swung open the doors and welcomed a large group of supporters and friends. For some, it was the first time seeing our new, much larger space, while for others, it was an opportunity to chat with staff about their different roles and how our drop-in services and programs support the many women now coming to Lou’s.

Alexa Haslingden, Chair of Lou’s for the past 8 years, thanked everyone for their contribution in helping Lou’s become the midsize, well-respected women’s service it is today. She also formally introduced Rebecca Fitzpatrick as the new Chair, passing the baton.  However, by far the most poignant moment of the evening came when Maureen (name changed), who visits Lou's Place, shared her story. The room fell silent as she spoke about the impact Lou’s has had on her life, reminding us all why we were there.

Lou’s Staff

Playing Bingo

Bingo!

Richard Clarke at the BBQ

Maureen’s Story

My name is Maureen, and I am 45 years old. 

The first time I ever engaged with Lou’s Place, I was an absolute mess, emotionally and physically. I was pregnant with my fourth child. My other three children had been removed from my care a few months prior.   I was still with their abusive father and I had no family to turn to. 

My mother went missing when I was 8 years old after leaving me in the care of my father. It wasn’t until 4 years later that she was found buried under a house. She had been violently murdered by her new partner. My father kicked me out at the age of 13, and I had my first child at the age of 16. 

After having my first child, my life was filled with abuse at the hands of my partner, the father of all my children. I eventually turned to drugs and alcohol. For many years, all my life consisted of was abuse, drugs and alcohol, which then eventually led to the removal of three of my children. In 2006, I  found out I was pregnant with my fourth child, who was removed from my care at birth. 

After having my newborn baby unable to leave the hospital with me I found myself at my lowest point possible. I started drinking uncontrollably until I would black out. I gave up my house and became homeless. I had lost all hope. I eventually came to the CBD and found a refuge on Victoria Street. 

I was lucky enough that this refuge was close to Lou’s Place. I started coming to Lou’s Place and they helped me with drugs and alcohol rehabilitation, helped me gain access to housing and supported me with clothing, toiletries and furniture when I needed it. 

They also offer an amazing, parenting program called “Always Mum” which helped me gain access to my youngest son, gave me confidence, and gave myself and other struggling mothers a safe place to share our stories in and environment where we didn’t feel judged. 

Lou’s Place were able to later help me with doing a construction course and to get my traffic control ticket which then helped me gain employment.

A few years ago, my daughter was having some struggles, and I was able to bring her into Lou’s Place. They jumped right into action to help and support her. The first day she came in, they provided her with crisis accommodation and vouchers and then eventually assisted her with permanent housing and then later they helped to have her eldest child returned to her care after them being separated for 7 years. 

Lou’s Place is truly a community of women helping women. We all have our own issues but we never feel judged here. I have made a lot of great friends at Lou’s and I am always happy when I am able to bring a friend here that is needing support. 

Here at Lou’s Place, they provide breakfast and lunch 5 days a week and for some women, the only time they have a decent meal is when they drop in here. 

Coming to Lou’s, you know you always have access to food, toiletries, a free phone to make any calls you need, access to computers and internet, support with housing, access and referrals to other support services, assistance with filling out forms, assistance in times of crisis, financial hardship assistance, support letters and everyday things that especially homeless people can’t easily get. 

Lou’s Place is the only drop-in centre that is solely for women and does not allow men. A very amazing thing is that you don’t need a referral to come here, like you do with pretty much every other service. 

I am an alcoholic, I don’t take any other drugs, but I do drink about 2 days a week, I also have COPD, a lung disease. This makes it difficult for me to work at times, especially in the colder months of the year as I work in traffic control and often have 1am starts. But it’s a massive relief to know that I can always rely on Lou’s Place to help with assistance or even just to be able to come in for a meal or a friendly chat. 

Lou’s Place is one of a kind, and a safe haven for women, no matter who they are. 

I currently have my own home, I am employed, I have a great relationship with my children and grandchildren, and I’m part of an amazing community of women here at Lou’s. I’m no longer homeless, or in an abusive relationship and I no longer take drugs. 

I know where I was, I know where I could have been, but look where I am today, and I have Lou’s Place to thank for that.

No More Empty Shoes

Building on the success of Lou’s Place “Empty Shoes” campaign, which honoured the victims of Domestic and Family Violence in November 2023, we are proud to announce our collaboration with the NSW Vigil Collective 2024, “Unite Against Violence: No More Empty Shoes".  We are honoured to be working alongside Hope and Heal, DV NSW, Muslim Women Australia, The City of Sydney, Dress for Success, Moving Forward, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Full Stop and Evolve Yourself to host this crucial  event in Martin Place during the United Nations' "16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence. " 

The goal of this advocacy is to raise community awareness, broaden conversations, and raise funds to support the salaries of two dedicated DFV case workers at Lou’s. We are actively seeking sponsorship and deeply appreciate those who have already joined us for 2024.

 “Unite Against Violence: No More Empty Shoes” is a one-day installation in Martin Place featuring pairs of shoes—each pair representing a woman who has lost her life to domestic or family violence in Australia. In 2023, 56 women died from gender-based violence. As of October 8, 2024 we have already lost 53 women (according to Counting Dead Women Australia). The significance of this year’s vigil is even greater, with additional media attention, the ongoing legal reforms, and an increased push for more front-line service funding. We need to make our voices heard.

 The vigil will be held on Tuesday, 26 November from 8am - 1pm, with speeches starting at noon. Each pair of shoes will be accompanied by a victim’s name and a flower placed in their honour during the reading of the names.  Visitors will be invited to walk beside the empty shoes and reflect on the lives lost. Lou's staff will be present to offer information  and answer any questions.  Featured speakers will include DVNSW CEO Delia Donovan, Youth Advocate and Educator Daniel Principe and Speaker, Counsellor, Survivor, Darryl Gardiner. Our special guest vocalist, Melinda Schneider will be performing 2 songs. 

 We invite you to join us in Martin Place on 26 November. Come together to remember, reflect and influence change.  Please share our message on social media. We need your voice to add to ours! Please also consider sponsoring a pair of shoes. We are actively seeking sponsors and corporate partners. If you know of any organisation/group that might be interested in getting involved, please contact Laura Prittie | laura@lousplace.com.au | 9358-4553.

For more event information visit: Unite Against Violence: No More Empty Shoes Tickets, Tue 26/11/2024 at 8:00 am | Eventbrite (the event is free and you don’t need to register but Eventbrite will create a handy calendar invite if you do). You can also access the event via our Facebook page: (2) UNITE AGAINST VIOLENCE: No More Empty Shoes. A vigil to honour the victims of domestic violence | Facebook

Always Mum

The Always Mum programme continues to be a vital source of support and empowerment for mums with children in out-of-home care. During the first two terms of 2024, 20 mums successfully completed our core 10-week programme. Collectively, these mothers have 55 children. The impact of the programme is clear in the participants’ positive feedback: 

"I grew as a person and as a woman. I loved these last 10 weeks." 

"I have absolutely enjoyed this program. I have grown so much, and I am inspired and looking forward to the future with my children." 

Data gathered before and after the program shows that it consistently meets and exceeds participants’ expectations, offering a space for growth, connection and hope.

Always Mum continues to build strong relationships with the community and sector. Notably, 33% of the women self-referred, demonstrating the programme’s growing reputation as a trusted community resource. Meanwhile, 38% of referrals came from local government and non-government services, including WAGEC, NSW Health, Mudgin-Gal, and residential rehabilitation services. Additionally, 28% were referred by the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ).

One particularly inspiring story comes from an Aboriginal mother who joined Always Mum in October 2023. Despite experiencing social anxiety and a mistrust of services, her strength and resilience shone through, and she completed all ten sessions. Recently, she began our Connecting Through Change programme and has become an active, engaged participant, offering advice to other women in Always Mum and encouraging them to continue to persevere through the program’s challenging content. Witnessing her transformation has been a privilege.

We are very grateful for the ongoing support of the Ruth Ritchie Foundation which enables Lou's Place to run this vital programme. 

Always Mum Space

Connecting Through Change

Connecting through Change continues to grow and develop, with 17 women completing our core 7-week programme during the first two terms of the year. This term, 67% of the women attending the programme were self-referrals, highlighting the growing recognition of the program’s value within the community. The remaining 33% of referrals came from local services such as Women and Girls’ Emergency Centre (WAGEC), the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), Women's Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service (WDVCAS), Mission Australia, residential rehabilitation services, and the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ).

One participant shared:  "I am not alone, I am important, I can say NO!" 

We also ran another outreach group at WHOS, which provides a range of evidence-based therapeutic programmes aimed at achieving recovery from alcohol and other drug dependence. Eleven women completed the tailored programme, and participant feedback has been overwhelmingly positive:

"This group exceeded my expectations; the information was relevant and extremely helpful, and the group was incredibly well run and nurturing." 

Another participant reported that the programme helped her understand her reactions to trauma and develop essential coping skills. As Connecting Through Change continues to evolve, we remain committed to empowering women through connection, education, and support.

Lou’s Closet 2024

This year marked the 14th Lou’s Closet, held for the first time at The Tramsheds in Forest Lodge. The event showcased a stunning selection of designer and high-quality second-hand women’s clothing. The venue buzzed with the lively energy of the community, which always make Lou’s Closet such a success. A huge thank you to the incredible, unwavering generosity of Australian designers: Carla Zampatti, Bianca Spender, Moss and Spy and Baz—donated brand-new clothes to the Closet. We're also  deeply grateful to the dedicated team of volunteers who worked tirelessly for months to make this event possible. This year, Lou’s Closet achieved its most successful year to date, raising an incredible $141,000!

Lou’s Closet not only generates essential funding to support services at Lou’s Place but also creates a fantastic opportunity to bring women together. Shoppers walked away with big smiles and bags full of  treasures at very reasonable prices, all while knowing they were supporting a great cause.  Thank you to everyone who attended Lou’s Closet this year—can’t wait to see you again next year when the Closet opens its doors from 1 to 3 May. Mark your diaries!

Lou's Closet team

Lou's Closet preparation

Lou's Closet silent auction

Lou's Volunteer Night

In May, we had the pleasure of hosting a special evening to celebrate our incredible team of volunteers. The night was filled with delicious nibblies, refreshing drinks, and the warm company of those who generously give their time and energy to Lou’s Place. 

Our guest speaker, River Neyland from Kirkton Road Centre, shared their deeply personal journey as a trans person. It was a privilege to hear River’s story, and we so are grateful for their openness and willingness to engage in such a powerful conversation. Our volunteers eagerly participated, asking insightful questions like:

“How does someone know that they are trans?”

“What’s the difference between sexual orientation and gender identity?”

“Do you need to have surgery in order to be transgender?” 

River also led us through a fascinating quiz on the history of the LGBTQIA+ community, sparking even more interest and discussion among our volunteers. 

We extend a heartfelt thank you to all the volunteers who attended and made the evening so special. We're truly grateful to have you as part of our team. 

River Neyland and Rebecca Fitzpatrick

Rebecca Fitzpatrick, Board Chair

Hepatitis C and Women's Health Clinic at Lou's Place

In July, Sydney Local Health District (SLHD) held a Hepatitis C and Women's Health Clinic at Lou's Place. Fifteen women were tested for Hepatitis C, and seven women accessed care from the women's health nurse. The Hepatitis C clinic, supported by SLHD, aims to increase testing among people who face significant barriers to accessing healthcare. Lou's provided a confidential space where a quick, dry blood spot test was administered. The samples were processed off-site, with results delivered by phone or email. The women's health nurse offered cervical screening, contraception advice, pregnancy tests, STI tests, breast exams and health information. Due to the positive response, SLHD will returned for another clinic in early September to offer these essential services to women in need. 

NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards

Lou's Place proudly nominated its team of activity volunteers for the annual NSW Volunteer of the Year awards. Several Lou's volunteers attended the regional ceremony at Paddington RSL on 12 August, including Katharina Arms (jewellery), Tanya Nasti (karaoke) in the Young Volunteer category and Amanda Lawson (creative writing).

Hosted by the Centre for Volunteering, the NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards, is an annual event that recognises the incredible dedication, effort and community service of volunteers across the state. The Centre for Volunteering recognises that volunteering plays a vital role in the well-being of our communities, and in 2023, 4.3 million people gave their time as a volunteers, contributing $178 billion to NSW (2023 State of Volunteering Report).  The sector has faced significant challenges following the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. 

Despite these obstacles, our wonderful volunteers at Lou’s Place continue to lead and participate in activities that are vital to our functioning and essential to our community. These include art, creative writing, sewing, piano, massage, karaoke, jewellery-making, hairdressing, yoga, movement and meditation, games and all-rounders. A huge thank you to our tremendous team!

City of Sydney awards Lou's with a Food Support Grant

Lou's Place is thrilled to be the recipient of a City of Sydney grant as part of their summer round of Food Support Grants. 

An essential part of Lou’s Place’s service to the community is the provision of free, nutritious home-cooked meals served in a safe and welcoming environment.  Our goal in providing these meals is threefold: first, to offer nutritious food that meets the needs of the women; second, to build trust for longer-term engagement; and third, to encourage social interaction. What better way to foster connection than over a meal cooked with love? For many homeless women, these meals are a basic necessity and a vital part of maintaining their welfare. 

Over the past 25 years, more than 145,000 hot lunches have been lovingly prepared by our incredible team of 100+ volunteer chefs. We’ve also distributed takeaway meals and food vouchers, ensuring that no woman leaves Lou's Place feeling hungry!

As more women access our services, we are now aiming to provide over 10,000 meals each year.  This is made possible through the generous support of food rescue services such as Oz Harvest and Too Good Co., who have been donating food to Lou's for the past 10 years. These donations are supplemented with wholesale pantry and meat purchases, funded by the City of Sydney Grant and other philanthropic contributions.  We are deeply grateful for their ongoing support of Lou's Place.

Lou's kitchen volunteers

Lunch at Lou’s

Gingerbread house decorating to raise funds for Lou's Place

Are you looking for an activity to get into the Christmas spirit? We're decorating gingerbread houses the evening of Tuesday, 3 December at Lou's Place. Bring along a family member or a friend for a fun-filled evening which includes light refreshments. All funds raised will go directly to Lou's Place. Please contact Lou's Place to reserve your place.

Email: info@lousplace.com.au

Making gingerbread houses

Lou's Closet 2024

For the past 13 years, the Lou’s Closet sale has been our biggest annual fundraiser. The sale of good-quality, new and second-hand clothing has, to date, raised over $750K to support vulnerable women at Lou's Place. We hope that 2024 will be an even bigger year for us as we move the event to The Tramsheds in Forest Lodge. 

For two and a half days, we are offering a beautiful selection of new and pre-loved women’s clothing and accessories at bargain prices. The Designer Closet will be offering stunning NEW pieces from high-end designer labels including Carla Zampatti, Bianca Spender and Moss and Spy. The clothing rails on the general floor will be full of incredible bargains with jackets, dresses, skirts and shirts starting at just $20. On Saturday, entry is free and everything on the general floor will be reduced to $10. 

Bring your friends along for a fabulous shopping experience while supporting Lou's Place!

Empty Shoes: a Vigil in Martin Place

Amber Lawrence

Jess Hill

Amber Lawrence and Sydney Philharmonia Choir

Lou's Staff (left to right) Alice Di Maggio, Gen Sakr, Shazya Singh

On 28 November last year, Lou’s Place held a vigil in Martin Place as part of the United Nations' 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. The vigil aimed to remember and honour all of the women who had, to date, lost their lives to family and domestic violence in 2023. 

 52 white balloons, each tethered to an empty pair of shoes, floated above the solemn public installation despite the wind and the rain. Each pair of shoes symbolized that, on average, one woman a week is lost to family and domestic violence. As of the date of the vigil in November, the number was tragically already 54. By the end of the year, it had risen to 63. 

The goal of the vigil was to raise awareness by fostering open conversations about domestic and family violence. It sought to humanise the issue, reminding everyone of the real people affected by these horrible statistics. Additionally, the event aimed to generate funds to support Lou’s Place, in its mission to assist women dealing with this crisis.

Lou’s Place is very grateful to our sponsors for the event Allens Linklaters, BGC, The Royal Bank of Canada, Parc Capital, Gresham, Wotton & Kearney, the City of Sydney and the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs for helping to make the day such a successful event.

Amanda Greaney, General Manager of Lou’s Place, spoke passionately to the crowd. She conservatively estimated that 80% of women who access Lou’s Place have experienced either domestic violence or sexual assault. Jess Hill, an award-winning journalist and author of See What You Made Me Do, served as the guest speaker for the event. Despite the drizzle, the crowd gathered under their umbrellas as Jess delivered a poignant message: 

“We are confronting an epidemic of coercive control that affects millions of Australians, essentially a process of psychological torture that goes largely unnoticed and at a scale difficult to comprehend. It will take all of us working together to end it.”

CMMA female country artist of the year Amber Lawrence concluded the vigil with a stirring performance of This Is Me accompanied by the Sydney Philharmonia Choir. Together, their performance instilled a sense of hope, illustrating what can be achieved through collective effort. 

Our Programmes at Lou's: Always Mum and Connecting Through Change

Seventeen mothers joined the first term of our Always Mum programme in February. This group of mothers, from diverse backgrounds, both reflects on and work towards individual goals for their children, who are in out-of-home care. They've built strong relationships within the programme, demonstrated by their empathy and kindness towards each other. The team leader at Anglicare’s Preservation and Restoration Service reported, “We have had several mums complete your Always Mum programme. We find it instrumental in their healing and working towards restoration of their children into their care.”

Term 1 of Connecting through Change began both its in-house and outreach programmes in February. The outreach programme is run through WHOS, a local drug and alcohol residential rehabilitation centre that provides a range of evidence-based, therapeutic treatment programmes. Lou's Place offers an onsite programme for women who are unable to leave WHOS to attend our core programme. 

Most enquiries for this term's programme were self-referrals, having heard about Connecting through Change through previous participants. We have received an overwhelmingly positive response from the 10 women who are near completion of the in-house programme. Furthermore, some women have become friends and are making plans to catch up. 

We received such lovely feedback from last term's group: 

• “I absolutely loved coming to this group! It gave me a safe place to discuss all I have learned."

• “My biggest take-away was that I am not alone, and I did not do anything to deserve what happened to me.”

• “I cannot thank you enough for this amazing programme. I have got so much from this amazing group.”

• “Shazya and Alice were fantastic facilitators. They are so kind and caring and obviously love their jobs. Big thumbs up to them both.”

OzHarvest Teaches New Cooking Skills For Better Health

Volunteers of OzHarvest's NEST programme have been teaching Lou’s women new cooking skills for better health. NEST (Nutrition Education Skills Training) is a six-week programme that teaches adults about healthy eating and easy, affordable cooking in a friendly and fun environment. Participants have been learning how to save money on their food budget by planning meals and reducing food waste. They're also learning to better understand food labels and store food safely. 

NEST is aligned with Australian Dietary Guidelines and works with everyone to set realistic goals around healthy eating. OzHarvest is currently running its second programme at Lou's Place with five participants. One woman who has coeliac disease says that she particularly enjoys learning about proper cutting techniques such as bridge cutting and rock chopping. She has also received suggestions for appropriate ingredient substitutions, which have been helpful with her meal planning.

Thank you to the OzHarvest team for offering this programme at Lou's Place.

Meditation and Breathwork Class

Nikki has recently joined our team of volunteers. She leads meditation and breathwork classes at Lou's Place, in which she brings women together to connect with the body. She uses a mix of yoga, Qigong, breathwork, meditation and dance. Nikki says:

"My class is about women healing. Just being together as women is powerful medicine. Breathing. Connecting to the body. I guide women with very simple movement and breath, ancient and intuitive techniques for calm, release and rebalancing. So many struggle with the concept of meditation, but I want to help people to discover its simplicity and the peace available to us all.”

Nikki's classes have been well received. Here's what her participants have to say: 

"It provides me with tools that I can use for various aspects in my life. Everyone should try it.”
“I love it. Nikki makes you feel great. We do a lot of stretches, meditation, and sometimes a bit of dancing.”

We are very grateful to have Nikki offer this vital service to the women at Lou's.

Support from the James N. Kirby Foundation

The James N. Kirby Foundation has been supporting Lou's Place with generous grants for the past 5 years. They are committed to supporting organisations that provide opportunities to those in our community who need it most.  In the past, we have received funding to support our emergency relief programme during the Covid pandemic, our daily cleaning service and recently towards our food budget. Thank you to the board of the James N. Kirby Foundation for your trust and support in the work that we do at Lou's Place.

Creative Writing Class

For just an hour a week, a small group of women come along to write and to share their thoughts with each other. Steaming cups of tea and baked treats in hand, pencils poised, students recently wrote about objects hidden in paper bags.

A nectarine

Firm to the touch, the nectarine isn't ripe yet. I run my hands over the smooth surface, curved like breasts, until I come to the tip. My fingers touch a rough, broken shoot, where it was connected to a tree growing in the sunshine. I can imagine myself lying under that tree and stretching my hands out through the green grass to reach for another fruit that's fallen from a low-lying branch. This one is soft and ripe to the touch. Its flesh has been pricked by birds and eaten by possums, I imagine. My fingertips trace its outline, getting sticky from the exposed flesh. Anonymous

HB pencil

This could be my art class pencil. It is as I remember it from primary school. The rubber in the end is for soaking up mistakes, re-doing shapes and lines, shading to do over again, more perfect or to my liking. We used to chew these tips of rubber, and the boys would throw them at us from across the classroom. Anonymous