After several years of dreaming, planning and hard work, MADCOW has moved into its new game-changer facility, enabling it to provide thoughtful support services to the homeless in the Bendigo area. MADCOW stands for Make A Difference, Change Our World, and is an initiative of Bendigo Baptist Church through its care arm, Bendigo Baptist Community Care.
“Everything has been very well received by our guests. It has been wonderful to watch them relax into the space and start to feel at home, feel safe and relaxed,” says MADCOW CEO Matt Parkinson. “We are excited to be in the community serving those who are sleeping rough, including providing things like a comfortable place to stay, showers, laundry, food and clothing. I hope and pray that those who enter this building will receive the love and mercy they need.”
Matt said the new hub was a stunning renovation of an old building, completed through philanthropic support alone. “The old building was hot in the summer, cold in the winter, and not fit for purpose. We had extremely outdated services and just one shower. Now, this is an exciting new chapter! There is a lot more to come as we roll out the model we are using to engage with the homeless. At the moment it feels like we’ve moved into a big new house and we’re just starting to make use of the space. We are currently building upon our work with women and families, and we’re opening the café to connect with more people.”
The first free community breakfast was served at the hub’s sleek modern café on February 6. These breakfasts are open to the general public five days a week with offerings like toasties, bacon, eggs and a cup of coffee. In other parts of the building, spaces are being finalised for agency staff to move in, making these services convenient for homeless people to access. The hub’s recreation room – used for activities during the week – will double as the meeting place for Bendigo Baptist’s City Campus on weekends. The exciting launch of this new campus home took place in mid-February, with four people getting baptised during the service.
MADCOW’s vision for the hub began in 2020 after Matt and his co-workers found a man sleeping on the doorstep with nothing but his clothes and a garbage bag for warmth. “That broke our hearts. From that moment we said we need to be doing more than just general food relief and supporting the community, we need to be looking after the rough sleepers. Words cannot express the gratitude I have for so many people that caught the vision and played a part in bringing it to life. I thank God for His provision and thank the many donors and supporters for their dedication to this ministry.”