01/09/2021
THINGS THAT THIS COUNTRY IS DOING TO PEOPLE
Not being able to work in weddings, which we love is a big blow to us, and it really sucks for all our couples who have been affected, but hear this story...
Our business recently started a hamper drive to help people in the local community. Today a lady reached out to us, when we met I asked her story and this is what she told me.
This lady is from Cambodia on a student visa. She was working and studying, and since Covid, the shop she worked at closed. She has a husband who also lost his job and together they have a 2 year old child. Every day, she's going to shops and asking if they're hiring, but no one is hiring. She has completely run out of money and she is promising to pay her rent back later, so she now has a growing rent debt.
She has even been going to supermarkets before closing time and asked if they could have any expired food that she can have. But they couldn't do that because it's illegal (food safety regulations), so she waits till when the supermarkets are closed and she gets fruits and vegetables from the dumpster, cleans them and brings them back home for the family. In tears she was saying, "What's wrong with this country? It's because you people have never starved."
She's scared of being sick because if she's sick she wouldn't be able to afford to see a doctor because it costs $100 each time because she's not on medicare.
Although she is on a student visa, due to the current financial situation she is unable to enroll in any courses.
She tried to reach out to churches and food banks, but they are outside of the government imposed 5km restrictions, and the last thing she needs is a $1000 fine from a government that is apparently trying to protect us.
She walked 3.5km to our office in Parramatta CBD. I asked her how she was going to get home, and whether she could catch a train because the bags were heavy. She said that she had no money on her Opal card, so I gave her some cash to fill up the card, two bags of groceries, a 10kg bag of rice and sent her home in an Uber.
Thank you to all those who have generously donated to our hamper drive, these are the people you're helping. If you'd like to support our work please get in contact with us and we will send you details on how you can help. www.eventweddings.com.au