Boroondara Community Outreach

03/05/2026

As our food stocks began to run low, this weekend’s collection came at just the right time.

Through St Hilary’s HOPE Food Drive, a much-loved annual initiative in our community. 502 blue shopping bags were donated, strengthening our capacity to continue supporting those who St Hilary’s our food relief.

We are grateful to the generous shoppers in our community, and to St Hilary’s HOPE volunteers and team for leading this initiative year after year.

01/05/2026

HOPE Food Drive is back for another collection THIS Saturday! 🙌

Their initiative plays a significant role in keeping our Emergency Relief well-stocked. Check out the participating supermarkets if you would like to fill a blue bag!

26/04/2026

One of our volunteers, Hilary Salmon, has recently been recognised by with a Services to Seniors Award. Around a third of the people we support fall within this demographic.

For the past 20 years, she has been cooking in our kitchen, preparing meals for our hot lunches and frozen meals for food relief.

We estimate, conservatively, that she has helped cook more than 50,000 meals over this time.

During COVID, when our onsite activities paused, Hilary continued to cook from home her signature dish, tuna mornay. Ensuring that the vulnerable people we support continued to be cared for.

In addition, she has supported other social events and has been a great recruiter, bringing in her family and friends to volunteer.

This award is a well-deserved recognition of her commitment.

05/04/2026

The tradition of gifting chocolate eggs at Easter is a familiar one, shared across backgrounds and generations.

For many of the families we support, rising costs have made these simple extras difficult to prioritise. This year, those pressures have been felt more acutely.

Through the generosity of our local Kew Woolworths community, we were able to provide chocolate gifts to 66 children and young people and their families, as well as individuals we support.

31/03/2026

We’ve been a bit quiet lately…

We’ve been busy with a big move 📦

BCO is now temporarily based in the old manse at
📍21 Highbury Grove while renovations are underway at Kew Uniting Church.

It’s still business as usual, groups, lunches and everything in between are continuing. Same as always, just one door over.

03/01/2026

Our 2025 end-of-year statistics are here, offering a glimpse into the scale of support we’ve provided across the community. But numbers only ever tell part of the story.

At BCO, we remain committed to a relationship-based model of care - walking WITH people, not doing things FOR them. We strive to create spaces where people feel supported and treated with dignity and respect.

Our dedicated volunteers embody this wholeheartedly through their generosity, commitment, and compassion. Week after week, they offer care and authentic connection to the people we support. They are the engine room of BCO!

We also extend our sincere thanks to the wider community who support us - individuals, local businesses, schools, churches, community groups, and Rotary clubs. Through contributions, partnerships, conversations, and moments of encouragement, you help ensure that BCO remains a place of belonging, dignity, and hope for vulnerable people in Boroondara.

Rev. Natalie (Coordinator) and Lida (Coordinator of Volunteers)

25/12/2025

Christmas lunch is always a joy. The room comes alive with conversation and laughter, children at play, and the clatter of knives and forks, with full bellies and no leftovers. With eighty people around the table, the trifle never stood a chance!🎄🍽️🎉

24/12/2025

We’ve finished packing, and what an incredible effort it’s been. Together, we reached 605 Christmas hampers for vulnerable residents across Boroondara.

What makes this project so special is the sheer breadth of support behind it, from Rotary clubs and schools to community groups, families, individuals, churches, and local businesses. A true collective effort that reached into homes and hospital wards across our community, bringing moments of joy to 94 children, offering families a little breathing space at a busy time of year, and reminding those spending Christmas alone or in hospital that their community is thinking of them.

Thank you to everyone who made this possible. 🎄

21/12/2025

A lovely way to end the year with our community carols, as the Ukelovelies and choir led us in song. 🕯️🎶

19/12/2025