Volunteer prepares 200,000 meals for people who are homeless

A Salvation Army volunteer who prepared 200,000 meals for people who are homeless during the pandemic has been recognised for her passion and commitment.

For almost a decade, Carole Dacey has volunteered with The Salvation Army’s First Response Outreach Project, formally the Bus Project - a street outreach service in Cardiff providing support to rough sleepers seven nights a week.

As well as her work with the project, Carole and her husband Chris also volunteer transporting victims of modern slavery to safe locations across the country.

Carole is also a volunteer at The Salvation Army charity shop in Penarth, and offers emotional support to those in distress with Samaritans. Carole has been recognised with an Outstanding Citizen’s Award from Penarth Town Council.

Catherine Docherty, Salvation Army Outreach Service Manager, said: “In her role Carole prepares food packs for our clients, and is on hand to share a kind word and give hope to the many individuals who have engaged with our project currently and in the past. 

“Through Carole’s faith and goodwill, she holds an incredible ability to relate to people experiencing some of their most difficult times. Her smile is infectious and her kindness is boundless. Carole’s commitment to supporting the work of The Salvation Army and the individual needs of our complex and challenging clients is extraordinary.

“Without Carole it would be impossible for us to so effectively meet the needs of those who come to us for help.”

The Salvation Army’s First Response Outreach Project was previously known as The Bus Project and provided food and hot drinks from a double decker bus.

During the pandemic, as people were no longer able to congregate at the bus, the team reached out to people on foot, including those who had been housed in hotels as part of the ‘Everyone In’ scheme.

Carole took on a new role – single-handedly preparing breakfast and dinners for hundreds of homeless people – and it has been calculated that she has prepared 200,000 meals and snack packs since the start of the pandemic.

Catherine added: “As we now move out of lockdown, Carole continues to provide for those who have returned to the streets and I hope one day that we will again reach a time of safety, where our volunteers can come out to support us and share not only food, but the conversations and belief that helps to change people’s lives.

“It is because of volunteers like Carole that our project can run. It is because of people like Carole that our world is a better and kinder place.”