The Hope Cafe might seem like any ordinary restaurant in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, with a range of food options on the menu and tables that quickly fill up.
But there’s one key difference: everything is free, no questions asked.
Located on the grounds of St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Fawkner and run by dedicated volunteers, the cafe is a space where everyone is welcomed, respected and cared for.
“There’s some weeks where we run out of food because we’ve had so many guests come through and we just haven’t had enough food to provide for them,” Carre said.
“A lot of the time we are getting elderly people or people who are vulnerable or at risk, they come to us. They are often building their own communities, friendships and support with each other and the volunteers.”
“We have had homeless people come and we’ve been able to connect them to services by giving them resources and phone numbers to contact.
