By Kerrie Lush
With six children and a busy riverfront café, William and Miranda McCallum are used to feeding the masses.
And they’re also big believers in helping out those less fortunate than themselves.
During Homeless Awareness Week from August 1 to 7, the McCallums will join forces with the Riverland Salvation Army Community Services and Salvos stores to provide soup and sandwiches to anyone who is in need of meal and shelter from the weather.
“It’s not just for homeless people either, it’s for single parents, people living with disabilities… anyone having a rough time,” William says. “We try to give people a wee glimmer of hope,” he adds.
Berri’s Alba Cafe owners William and Miranda McCallum join forces with Riverland Salvation Army Community Services and Salvos stores
It’s not the first time the family has helped out people in need.
Last Christmas they opened their doors at Alba Café on the Berri riverfront and provided meals to anyone who had no-where to go or nothing to eat on Christmas Day.
They also introduced a ‘pay it forward’ system for coffee and breakfast when they moved to the Riverland and opened their café three years ago.
Back then, Scotsman, William and Miranda (originally from Melbourne) packed up their lives in the United Kingdom to move to a rambling five bedroom farm house at Paringa, near Renmark.
In Scotland, William was a landscape builder who drove black cabs on the weekend while Miranda was a former high-end caterer.
The McCallums opened their doors to provide meals to people who had nothing to eat on Christmas Day (Photo: ABC)
Helping those less fortunate is something William has been aware of from a young age.
As a child, he recalls serving up hotdogs and onions to homeless people on the streets of Edinburgh with his mother.
It’s those sorts of values he and Miranda are hoping to pass onto their five sons and one daughter.
“It’s really important for me that my children see that and they know how to treat other people,” he says.
“We want to expose them to all facets of life because we can all become a wee bit complacent.”
Through operating their café, William and Miranda have built up a rapport with a number of people who often sleep rough on the riverfront.
The McCallums will join forces with Riverland Salvation Army Community Services and Salvos stores
And while some are comfortable with coming into the café, William says there are many who struggle to ask for help.
“We’re aware that some people won’t come in because they won’t want to expose themselves.”
To cater for those people, William says the Riverland Community Services, including the Salvation Army, are always grateful for donations of insulated flasks which can provide a ‘take-away’ option.
Warm clothes, blankets and torches are also well received.
While the McCallums are uncertain about just how many mouths they’ll feed during Homeless Awareness Week, they’re hopeful it will increase community awareness of those who are doing it tough.
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