How a bowl of soup saved Amy’s life

“Amy first came to us admitting that she was almost suicidal. Her debts had become so big and so insurmountable, and she was dealing with a son with mental illness that she was caring for.” – Troy Eggleton, SouperVan manager.

For Amy, an 82-year-old woman living in Wauchope, the ADRA Community Connect Wauchope ‘SouperVan’ was the lifeline she had been looking for. She was pushed to the brink by the combined pressures of COVID-19, the cost-of-living crisis, and caring for her son who was mentally ill. On top of this, she was left to pay off someone else’s bills. Life seemed hopeless and Amy began to feel deeply depressed.

And then, someone in her circle suggested that she visit the SouperVan.

Every Wednesday evening, the ADRA SouperVan in Wauchope provides up to 120 patrons with hot soup, buns, fresh fruit and vegetables, and uplifting conversation and connection. The SouperVan began as a ministry of the Wauchope Adventist Church, serving soup and buns to those in the community doing it tough. Since becoming an ADRA program, it has expanded to also provide fresh produce, blankets, sleeping bags and pet food.

“When Amy first came, we were only offering soup and buns,” says Troy Eggleton, volunteer manager for ADRA Community Connect Wauchope. “And then a little while later, we started doing produce, and that was just a game changer for her, because then she could go home and prepare a meal.”

Receiving support with her groceries meant that, slowly, Amy was able to get on top of her bills. Combined with the uplifting social interactions she experienced at the weekly SouperVan program, Amy’s mental health improved.

“By coming to the SouperVan, I could manage to survive,” Amy says. “I got ahead with bills.

“I think it’s marvellous to be able to come to SouperVan and get fresh veggies, a cup of soup, and to sit amongst people with like-minded attitudes and really enjoy myself.”

Amy was drawn in to the spiritual aspect of the SouperVan project.

“Amy quickly became a regular,” says Troy. “She started to stay back with us for our prayer at the end of our service evenings and expressed that she loved our prayers and being around happy and kind people. Amy then joined us for our church’s Depression and Anxiety Recovery Program and followed that up with our social evenings and Forgive to Live programs. Now, Amy regularly comes to church, stays for our lunches, and is eagerly awaiting the commencement of her Bible studies to prepare for baptism, expressing that she now sees our church family as her family.”

Amy says, “Now I’m getting on my feet and much happier. You learn your lessons and you put your faith in God.”

To learn more about the SouperVan and how ADRA Australia is supporting Aussies who would otherwise fall through the cracks, visit adra.org.au/soupervan

This piece was originally written for and published by Signs Magazine.