One of the best things about Christmas is the way it brings people together, and this has been true for Rough Edges and the other St John’s Community Service (SJCS) programs. It’s difficult to imagine, but we had five Christmas celebrations in December: celebrating as a small staff team with Christmas drinks; a beautiful lunch at OzHarvest Reffetorio for Banksia Women; schnitzels the size of your head for Urban Insight staf; a Christmas banquet for Rough Edges patrons (see picture) and a picnic (held inside due to the weather) for families of St John's and SJCS staff.
And we still have a thank you event for volunteers which will happen later in January!
It feels exhausting just listing everything we have done, but it has been a pleasure to celebrate with our various groups and to acknowledge all that we have achieved this year. This is also a small reflection of the many communities our work intersects with.
Everyone celebrates differently, but sharing food with family or community is usually central to that. Each meal at Rough Edges is more than food on a plate. It's an occasion to spend time with people who understand you in a place where you are accepted for who you are.
Thank you to everyone who supported us in 2023. Now for 2024.