Glenroy Oak Park Baptist Church (GOPBC) is working with local residents to exchange used drink-containers for cash, then donating the proceeds to support local people in need. It’s a simple yet beautiful way of connecting with community and partnering with another local church.
“It’s a mission in a way – it creates small connections between people and the church and you never know where that might lead,” said GOPBC member Eric Hough, who leads the ministry.
Every few weeks, Eric drives his ute to various collection points to gather bottles and cans, then takes them to a depot to get the ten cents per item as part of Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme. Once $500 has been raised, the church donates it to local charities, which so far have included the local Community Pantry in Hadfield, plus The Smith Family and the Red Shield Appeal.
A total of $1000 has been given to the Pantry, which is run by another nearby church. Eric hopes these contributions will foster further collaboration opportunities between the two churches as they both minister in the neighbourhood. “Apart from the food that individual people donate, it costs $150 per week to run the Pantry. It is an honour, blessing and pleasure to be able to help lift a local food bank run by a small church.”
Pamphlets were delivered to local residents explaining the drink-container collection and asking if they’d like to regularly donate used containers to GOPBC. “I currently collect from four homes and a block of units where several people donate,” Eric said. “I’ve had the opportunity to chat with people and build some friendships as I do this. It’s helping to build connections within the community and to break down assumptions and misbeliefs, both among churchgoers and community members. The locals are keen to support Melbournians, and we have seen really positive results.”
GOPBC keeps a 240L blue collection bin at the church, and another at Eric’s home. He said it was helpful to know that some depots have capacity to empty binloads rather than feeding individual containers into a machine. When the church makes a donation, Eric lets all of the container donors know, even if they did not contribute to the current collection period. “I tell them that we have reached the next $500 target, where the money goes and the total raised. This is along with a thank you to let all the donors know that they are part of a community. The biggest concern would be if you started collecting and then suddenly didn’t continue, because people come to depend on you and want to support what you’re doing.”