Maroochy Neighbourhood Centre Inc.

End of Financial Year Giving That Stays Local

As the End of the financial year approaches, we invite you to consider making a tax-deductible donation to Maroochy Neighbourhood Centre.

Every day, we see firsthand the challenges many people in our community are facing. Families experiencing financial hardship, people sleeping rough, individuals navigating homelessness, and community members looking for connection, support and hope.

Your donation helps us continue providing practical assistance through programs such as:

🏠 Sunny Coast Sleeper – providing safe sleeps for people experiencing homelessness

🍽️ One Roof Community Meals – creating connection over a nutritious meal

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Support – assisting families to navigate difficult times and access the support they need

🤝 Community Programs – reducing isolation and strengthening community connections

Over the past year, thousands of people have walked through our doors seeking support, information, referrals, meals, safe sleep and a sense of belonging.

No donation is too small. Every contribution helps us continue responding to community need and ensuring people know they are not facing life's challenges alone.

As a registered Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR), all donations over $2 are tax-deductible.

If you would like to make a difference before 30 June, please consider making a donation today.

Together, we can continue building a stronger, more connected and compassionate Sunshine Coast community.

💙 Donate today: www.maroochync.org.au

Over the past nine weeks, our budding artists have been getting creative with Sylvie from Wiseworx, trying their hand at a range of painting styles and techniques while having plenty of fun along the way.

Together they have completed:

Sensational Sunsets – Watercolour Painting

Gum Leaves – Acrylic Painting

Revamp – Painting on Print

Tantalising Tree – Watercolour

Patterned Healing – Painting

Bird's Eye View – Painting

Hearts – Mixed Media

Palette Knife Landscapes

Watercolour Landscapes

Puffins on Canvas

Each week has been a chance to learn something new, get creative, share a few laughs and enjoy good company. The group has produced some fantastic artwork while exploring different ways to express themselves.

A big thank you to Sylvie for her encouragement and creativity over the past nine weeks.

A total of 24 people, along with one energetic and friendly Groodle, accessed the Sunny Coast Sleeper over the weekend, with 18 safe sleeps provided in Maroochydore and 6 in Nambour.

Over the weekend, I took the opportunity to chat with our guests and gather some feedback about the service. Every person spoke highly of the volunteers and the peace of mind the Sleeper provides. Knowing they can get on board, settle in, and enjoy a safe and uninterrupted night's sleep.

One guest summed it up perfectly, saying that once his boots are off and he lies down, "it's lights out" and he doesn't hear a thing until morning. For people who spend their days worrying about where they will sleep and whether they will be safe, that opportunity to fully rest is invaluable.

A huge thank you to everyone who makes the Sunny Coast Sleeper possible. From our bus drivers, drivers' drivers, caretakers, night service volunteers and housekeeping crew, you show up week after week for people doing it tough. Your commitment helps ensure our guests feel welcomed, respected, safe and supported.

Thank you also to our funders, supporters and community partners. Your ongoing contribution keeps the Sunny Coast Sleeper operating and allows us to continue providing a practical response to homelessness across the Sunshine Coast.

Saturday morning was also a great opportunity to connect with many of the people who make the service possible. Around 30 volunteers joined us for our Sleeper Volunteer Coffee Morning, enjoying good conversation and the chance to catch up away from shift duties.

A special thank you to AJ, Natalie, Judy, Paula and Imogen for putting on a fantastic spread, including homemade sausage rolls, cheese dips and crackers, sandwiches and caramel slice. It was a wonderful morning and a chance to acknowledge the people behind the service.

As we prepare to extend the Nambour service to two nights per week, we are currently looking for additional volunteers to help make this possible. We are seeking bus drivers, drivers' drivers, caretakers, night service volunteers and housekeeping crew members.

If you would like to find out more about volunteering with the Sunny Coast Sleeper, please email Leonie at [email protected]

What you do matters, and together we continue to make a difference, one safe night's sleep at a time.

A total of 49 people enjoyed a hearty chicken roast served with eight different vegetables and gravy, followed by a homemade apple crumble with custard and cream.

It was great to welcome back our very own bionic woman, Jo, after her hip surgery.

A big thank you to Jo, Fran and the crew who turn up every week to prepare and serve fresh, healthy meals for families and individuals in our community. Your commitment helps ensure people have access to a nutritious meal and a welcoming place to connect.

Thank you also to OzHarvest Sunshine Coast and Gympie for the fresh produce that helps make these meals possible each week.

It was another busy and rewarding week at the One Roof Community Lunch, with 107 meals served across Tuesday and Thursday.

On Tuesday, our community enjoyed a hearty chicken roast with vegetables, followed by spicy fruit pudding and custard. Thursday's menu featured gourmet bangers and mash, finished off with a delicious apple and passionfruit upside-down cake with custard. Of course, every meal was accompanied by MNC's famous cheesy garlic bread.

We were also pleased to welcome the Mayor and Councillors from the South Burnett Regional Council during the week, who visited the Sunshine Coast to explore responses to homelessness for their region. They were particularly interested in learning more about the Sunny Coast Sleeper and the range of community programs delivered by Maroochy Neighbourhood Centre.

A big thank you to Orange Sky Laundry for providing 18 loads of washing during the week, helping people access clean clothing and bedding.

We are incredibly grateful to Ozharvest Sunshine Coast for the fresh produce donated throughout the week, and to Maroochydore Fruitlovers Market for their generous donation of fruit and vegetables.

A special shout-out also to Coles Kawana for hosting the community trolley collection. Thank you to every shopper who added an item to the trolley. Your generosity helps stock our pantry, supports community meals, and ensures we can continue providing practical assistance to people doing it tough across the Sunshine Coast.

To all our volunteers, community partners and supporters—thank you. Every meal served, every load of washing completed, and every act of kindness helps create a welcoming space where people can connect, access support, and feel part of the community.

As temperatures continue to fall across the Sunshine Coast, the need for safe, warm places to sleep becomes even more important. This weekend, the Sunny Coast Sleeper provided 29 safe sleeps for people experiencing homelessness, with 24 guests accessing the service in Maroochydore and 5 in Nambour. For those on board, it was more than just a bed for the night; it's an opportunity to get the restorative sleep that so many of us take for granted.

A huge thank you to our volunteers who make this service possible each week. From our bus drivers, drivers' drivers, caretakers, night volunteers, housekeeping crew, and behind-the-scenes coordinator, your commitment ensures that people experiencing homelessness have somewhere safe and welcoming to sleep.

We would also like to thank https://www.facebook.com/Sunshinebenches/, who came to the rescue this week by helping us charge our battery system after our regular outdoor power supply blew a fuse. Your support meant the Sleeper could continue operating overnight without interruption. Thank you also to CDC for quickly repairing the power supply and getting everything back up and running.

To our funders, donors, community partners, and supporters, thank you for your ongoing generosity and belief in the service. Your support allows the Sunny Coast Sleeper to continue operating week after week, providing a practical and compassionate response to homelessness on the Sunshine Coast.

And finally, thank you to our wider community. Whether you donate, advocate, share our posts, or simply help raise awareness, you are part of making this service possible.

Every safe sleep matters. Together, we are providing more than a place to sleep; we are offering dignity and connection to people sleeping rough.

We are super STOKED to partner with Nomads Golf Sunshine Coast for their 2026 Charity Golf Day! 🏌️‍♀️

Are you a GOLF LOVER (even amateurs like me are allowed) or a LOCAL BUSINESS who wants to play or support the day? ☀️

Find more details in the flyers or comment below. 🙂

Nomads have donated over $285,000 to local organisations like MNC, and this year it's our turn. Get behind the 2026 Golf Day on Friday September 4, and lets make it a HIT! 🏆

Thank you, Nomads Golf Sunshine Coast!

It was a magic day with sunshine, blue skies, and 56 people enjoying a melt-in-your-mouth beef stir-fry with fried rice, followed by banana and passionfruit upside-down cake with fresh cream for dessert.

Thanks, Fran, Margie, Sue, Ned and Coral for consistently preparing quality meals for our community.

Orange Sky Laundry had another busy afternoon, completing 7 loads of washing in 2 hours.

Thank you OzHarvest Sunshine Coast and Gympie for the fresh produce delivered each week, and to Fruit Lovers Market Maroochydore for donating the box of quality vegetables and 2 dozen eggs.

A great afternoon all round.

A huge thank you to the Mooloolaba Lions Club and Buderim Uniting Church for your generous donations to Maroochy Neighbourhood Centre.

Your ongoing generosity makes a real difference to the many people who access our centre each week. Support from community organisations like yours helps us continue providing practical assistance, connection, meals, and safe sleeps for people experiencing homelessness and families in hardship across the Sunshine Coast.

We truly appreciate your generosity and continued support of the work we do within our community.👏