Sharing food and spreading joy with Theodora’s Cheerful Givers

Theodora’s House Inc, affectionately known as Theodora’s Cheerful Givers, is a not-for-profit charity founded by Gina Poulos. Gina speaks to Sarah Halfpenny about how the charity responds to the needs of people enduring financial hardship.

What was the inspiration behind founding Theodora's Cheerful Givers?

Being of Greek origin and of Christian faith, the name ‘Theodora’ originates from the Greek word ‘Theo’ (God) and ‘Dora’ (gift) – so Theodora means ‘Gift from God’. I come from a family of givers; my dad used to give people things when they were in need, as did my mum. The act of giving was instilled in me and my three siblings from a very young age. The inspiration for the charity came from knowing there were people in the community who needed food, so I looked for a way to give. Theodora’s Cheerful Givers has operated an emergency relief food pantry in the Frankston area for nearly 20 years. We currently serve around 400 food hampers each week, in addition to over 1000 precooked frozen meals.

Tells us a story that’s left a lasting impression.

I’ll share a story about a man called Max. He used to be a chartered accountant but was now visually impaired and living by himself. He was a bit of a grump and didn’t really get along with any of his neighbours. My husband, Peter, and I would take meals to him each week; we did that for about a year. His house was rather untidy with an unpleasant odour, and while he had lovely antique furniture, it seemed Max no longer held a lot of pride in his home. One day I was thinking about how I could help Max in another way. I was passing an electrical store and I stopped and purchased a slow cooker for $40, then bought some fish and vegetables. I took the slow cooker and food to Max and taught him how to cook it. From then on we’d deliver frozen meals to Max and he’d heat them in the slow cooker. A few months later, Max opened the door in an apron and welcomed us inside. His house had been tidied and there was a lovely smell of food cooking in the slow cooker. That day Max invited us to come for Christmas lunch; he’d also invited his neighbours. It was amazing to see this transformation, and unbelievable to think that all it took was a $40 slow cooker and some food to change this man’s life. This story stayed with me because it’s something that helped him and others. We once purchased 20 slow cookers and gave them to people. It meant we could deliver food that was frozen so it lasted longer and gave people this wonderful sense of independence in cooking meals for themselves.

Your op-shop plays a role in supporting your charitable efforts. How can people get involved?

Our opportunity shop, Bargains and Blessings, is located down Ashleigh Lane in Frankston. It’s only small but it gives people the opportunity to buy things for less. A lot of people go there with vouchers we’ve given them to collect clothing for themselves and their children. Teresa is our manager and we open the shop with limited hours only two days a week, as we don’t have enough volunteers.

Why do you provide support without restrictions on location, age or background?

We don’t judge anyone, and it's important that everyone is treated equally. Poverty doesn’t discriminate so why would we? We used to be able to deliver food to a lot of areas, but with rising petrol costs, vehicle maintenance costs and the need for volunteer drivers we are unable to do a lot of deliveries.

What is the process for individuals or families in need to access your services?

People can collect a food parcel from our factory at 1/12 Govan St, Seaford between 10am and 3.30pm Monday to Friday. We offer a free food parcel once a fortnight, and people generally need to show their Centrelink card. The food parcels are substantial and a family should be able to eat for a fortnight.

What is the best way for people to support Theodora's Cheerful Givers?

We’d love more volunteers to work in the op-shop or the factory in Seaford, packing food parcels for collection with my husband, Peter, and my friend and volunteer extraordinaire, Nina. We don’t require set hours; just whatever people can offer of their time to do something good for the community. Cash donations are always welcomed to keep our operation running.

You can find out more about Theodora’s Cheerful Givers at www.theodorahouse.org.au or by calling Gina on the phone number listed there.