By mid-morning on a Wednesday, a long line has already formed at Catholic Care’s Mamre House and Farm in Orchard Hills. 

Some people arrive early, reusable shopping bags folded neatly under their arms. Others sip hot tea on the verandah, greeting familiar faces and browsing boxes of home-grown and locally harvested vegetables and herbs near the entrance. Nearby, the warm, comforting smell of baked bread wafts in the air.

Others arrive quietly; some supported by mobility aids, while some have young children. Many keep to themselves, grateful for a place where they can come and go with ease and dignity. 

For many in Western Sydney, this weekly gathering has become a lifeline. 

Read the full story in Catholic Outlook