Night has fallen over Queanbeyan. We are outside the Visitor Information Centre. It is dark and cold: 9 degrees — enough for the chill to bite at one’s fingers. But there is warmth here, too.

Beside the Vinnies Night Patrol van gather the charity’s “companions” — people sleeping rough, people at risk of homelessness, people who are socially isolated, and, increasingly, working people whose wages cover rent but not enough food.

The three volunteers — leader Chris Bold and volunteers Leanne Golding and Brad Parry — hand out sandwiches, soup, hot chocolate, winter clothes, and a few moments of conversation.

For some companions, this may be the first time they have spoken to a fellow human being that day.

“Homelessness hasn’t disappeared,” Leanne says. “We’re not a big solution, but we are a basic solution that helps meet people’s needs. The amount of smiles we got just tonight alone helps you see that, and the thankfulness from a warm cup of Milo and a soup.”

The Queanbeyan site becomes a busy hub, a small community. There are mothers with kids dozing on their shoulders; people with dogs on leashes; homeless men rugged up against the cold in parkas.

A man discharged from hospital is given a jacket, a beanie, a scarf, socks, and a sleeping bag.

There is good-natured banter, and the occasional squabble over a sandwich.

Other services are there, too: the Orange Sky Laundry, the Queanbeyan Night Pod (sleep bus), and, usually, the Ministry of Food (serving hot meals).

Set up 25 years ago, the Night Patrol operates 364 days of the year. Its two vans — aptly marked Compassion and Commitment — visit Queanbeyan, the Belconnen Bus Interchange, Veterans Park in Civic, and the Dickson Library.

As well as warm drinks, food, and material assistance, they put the companions in touch with a caseworker at the Early Morning Centre who can refer them to other services.

“It’s effectively Vinnies out of hours,” co-ordinator Colette Neumann says. “Night Patrol heads out when the weather is the coldest and most unkind, and it gives people somewhere to come that’s safe and non-judgemental.”

The Night Patrol serves 60 to 80 people every night, reaching 100 in the depths of winter.

“Cost of living means we’re seeing more people at the vehicles,” Ms Neumann said. “Two years ago, we had a woman travelling from Belconnen to Civic to pick up two sandwiches for her kids, just so they could go to lunch with something that looks similar to other kids’.

“That sort of need is increasing. We have encountered a few people at Belconnen who come home from work on the bus; they’ll come to the vehicle, have a cup of coffee, have a chat to someone, and they’ll take a sandwich with them, because the wage may pay the rent, but it won’t fulfil their needs foodwise or warmthwise.”

Night Patrol is funded through Vinnies shops, donations, and appeals such as the current Winter Appeal and Vinnies CEO Sleepout.

The public can help by donating winter items such as sleeping bags, blankets, jumpers, large men’s jackets, thermals, tracksuit pants, socks, gloves, tents, swags, towels, and handwarmers.

“This service is only as good as what we’re able to give at the end of the day,” Chris says. “Heading into winter, blankets, sleeping bags, big jackets, socks, gloves, the things that we all take for granted, that we all need for winter, everyone else needs them too.”

Vinnies also needs snack foods, cup-a-soups, hot noodles, and small travel-size toiletries such as toothpaste, shampoo, and conditioner.

Approximately 260 people volunteer for the Night Patrol (80 are regulars) — and more are always needed. At least three people are needed on a night shift. The roster is flexible: some volunteer once or twice a month, plus a step-in shift when the patrol is down a team member.

“Something where I’m out one night a month and pick up extra shifts works really well for me,” Brad says.

He joined the Night Patrol in 2022.

“I made a New Year’s resolution that I wanted to help people. There’s nothing abstract about it. You’re there with people who are looking for clothes and food and a chat, and you can offer them clothes and food and a chat, so you see what we mean to people. You see the difference that it makes first-hand in a way that not all volunteering opportunities do.”

Chris agrees; volunteering on the Night Patrol gives him a buzz. “You can have the worst, most stressful day at work, and I generally always come home feeling I’ve done something with my day that I saw made a difference.”

Applicants need a driver’s licence and a Working with Vulnerable People card. Vinnies trains patrol members in food safety, child protection, what the activities are like, and how the van works.

General day hand volunteers stock shelves or the van and fill it up with petrol.

To volunteer, donate, or find out more, visit the Night Patrol page on the Vinnies website.

Donations can be left at local Vinnies shops and marked for Night Patrol, or enquiries can be sent to [email protected].