A RENOVATED Soup Bus could be back in Sebastopol by early next year with a third likely to return to Wendouree West within 18 months.
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Restorations on the second bus began last year but plans to get it back on the road and in the community stalled amid the pandemic.
Ballarat Soup Bus' Lorraine Gittings said restorations were a chance to redesign the interiors to better suit the work and safety of volunteers, drawing on the 12 years' or so community experience for the service.
Soup Bus has continued to operate in central Ballarat for five nights a week through lockdowns and COVID-19 restrictions. Ms Gittings said Wednesday mornings at Ballarat East Men's Shed had also been busy with a rise of people in need stocking up on groceries.
At least these cold nights we know they have a safe roof over their head and we can feed them.
- Lorraine Gittings, Ballarat Soup Bus
"There have been a lot of families coming down to get meals," Ms Gittings said. "The government has moved a lot of people who had been living on the street into motels and caravans during the pandemic. At least these cold nights we know they have a safe roof over their head and we can feed them."
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Ballarat Soup Bus offers food and essential items to the homeless and those most in need. This can even be a meal or basic supplies to help someone through to their next paycheck, which Ms Gittings said had happened during the pandemic.
"Everyone has a story. We respect it and do what we can to help," Ms Gittings said.
Plans to move into Wendouree West were up-ended mid-last year when the Soup Bus' operations in the Ballarat City Senior Citizens Club in Little Bridge Street were cut short. At the same time, the Sebastopol-based bus was undergoing renovations.
Plumbing and industrial works company JB Camerons offered the Soup Bus space on its land in Armstrong Street.
Ms Gittings said the Soup Bus had enjoyed Camerons' ongoing generosity since then.
Buses in Wendouree and Sebastopol will help cater to people unable to easily access central Ballarat.
Soup Bus has more than 300 volunteers and Ms Gittings said not one had pulled out due to coronavirus restrictions or concerns.
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