Kingsgrove Community Aid Centre is finding new ways to reach out to its seniors, the vulnerable and young mums who may be isolated during the coronavirus pandemic.
The centre in Morgan Street, Kingsgrove is well-known as a home away from home for many people.
But the coronavirus pandemic means this is no longer an option and staff have had to move quickly to provide online services for those who are connected, and daily phone contact for seniors who aren't.
The centre has started a One Call Away service for isolated seniors if they need anything or just need to talk.
And it has moved to a virtual playgroup for isolated young mothers.
"We are a virtual crossroads for community contact," Kingsgrove Community Aid Centre chief executive officer Anne Farah-Hill said.
"It's been a challenging time for community centres," Anne said.
"We knew it was coming so we were planning, but when it did happen it was difficult. It hit us like a tonne of bricks because it was done overnight."
Suddenly the centre was unable to host the many groups who visit there every week for community contact and support.
"We are an essential service for seniors and the vulnerable," Anne said. "The core of our work is to get people out of their home and to meet other people, socialise and develop community connections.
"Now we have to do this by virtual means which are not available to everybody. We have had to do this by going online.
"We have always concentrated on the physical. Now, this is a virtual world and was not something we were ready for. We found ourselves learning to set up Skype and Zoom
"We had to suspend our senior's groups. This upset some of our customers. One customer, Beryl, who is in her 80s, said how heartbroken she was that she couldn't come to the centre anyone but she understood and said we all have to support our centre.
"Our young mum's playgroups and parents groups are okay with the technology such as Zoom, Skype and Google Meet.
"The mother's group are still able to get together every Monday at the same time each week by virtual connections.
"We invited them to join Zoom so they can still connect with other mums and chat. The Friday support group is being set up to do the same, so they can have support.
"But it is the senior's groups who are isolated. We have about 100 seniors in our social support program. How do you set them up with a laptop and Zoom in their homes? They can't use it. They don't have an iPhone, computers or laptops.
"Some in their 70s do, but the older seniors in their 80s don't. It is difficult for them, so our staff are ringing them daily to see if they are okay.
"We offer them shopping assistance and take them out on a one-on-one basis.
"If they have an essential appointment but are scared of using a taxi, we will also assist them on a one-on-one basis.
"And they can use our One Call Away service."
Anne said the centre staff are working around the clock to provide support for its customers.
"The community service sector is essential. People always consider frontline workers to be health care workers, shop assistants or lorry drivers, but nobody thinks that social workers are just as necessary," Anne said.
"Community service work is to engage with people, support them and get them to come to their community centre.
"We are supporting them the mental capacity and when they are anxious and not coping.
"This challenge has taught us how to do things virtually and how we will have to use technology in the future.
"We are a virtual crossroads for community contact.
"But our resources are small," she said.
"Our child care operations are still going, including Hurstville Out of School Care, especially for parents who are working in the front line, and we still plan Vacation Care at Hurstville Public school.
"We are still there for as long as we can."
People can contact the Kingsgrove Community Aid Centre's "One Call Away" number 0402 443 763, if they need assistance or just to talk.
