As demand for homelessness support continues to grow across Western Sydney, Castle Hill RSL Group (CHRG) has brought together its members, guests and employees to support Parramatta Mission during Homelessness Week 2026.

From 3–9 August, CHRG supported Parramatta Mission’s One Heart for the West Campaign. A hamper drive collecting essential food, toiletries and clothing for individuals and families experiencing hardship.

Homelessness Week is a national campaign that raises awareness of homelessness and housing insecurity across Australia, while encouraging communities to support organisations providing vital frontline services.

For Parramatta Mission, that need is becoming increasingly evident.

“We’ve had a 40% increase in demand for our services in the last 6 months,” Parramatta Mission CEO & Lead Minister Geoff Smith said.

“These days we are feeding around 350 people a day, breakfast and lunch, Monday to Friday.”

In response, CHRG established donation points across its five venues - Castle Hill RSL Club, CHRG Sports & Wellness Club, Club Parramatta, Lynwood Golf & Country Club and Castle Hill Bowling Club - providing an opportunity for the broader CHRG community to get involved.

Throughout the week, donations of everyday essentials were collected, including long-life food, pasta, rice, cereals and canned goods, along with toiletries, personal care products, new socks and underwear.

The donated items will go directly to Parramatta Mission, helping provide emergency hampers to people facing difficult circumstances across Western Sydney.

For CHRG, the initiative reflects a broader commitment to supporting the communities in which it operates and working alongside organisations that understand where assistance is needed most.

It is an approach that Smith believes is essential to addressing complex challenges such as homelessness.

“We are well aware that governments can’t do everything, but we are also well aware that we can’t do everything,” he said. “So, where we can find spaces to work together, that’s what we seek to do.”

Parramatta Mission works with some of the most vulnerable members of the community, providing practical assistance while connecting people with services, support and a sense of belonging.

“We work with the people who sometimes fall through the cracks to find a place where they belong, to find the services they need, the support you and I may take for granted,” Smith said.

CHRG’s support of the Emergency Hamper Drive is one example of how its network of venues and people can be mobilised to make a practical contribution to the wider community.

While Homelessness Week provides an important opportunity to raise awareness, the need continues throughout the year - and so too does the importance of community partnerships.

As Smith explains, the ultimate goal is one grounded in hope.

“We’re all about giving people something to look forward to - a better day. Not to think about what’s gone wrong before, but what might go right in the future.”