Just Enough Faith
By Vanessa McQuarrie

Twelve years ago millionaire chef and restaurant owner Jeff Gambin cashed in his lavish lifestyle to concentrate on feeding Sydney's homeless.

Since then, Gambin's organisation, Just Enough Faith (JEF), has served more than 400 hot meals a night – every night.

JEF's small team of volunteers run a kitchen in Rozelle and hand out its high quality dishes from the back of a van. Gambin and his wife Alina still draw solely on their own funds for 80% of the operating costs. The other 20% is covered by the goodwill of suppliers.

Recently, Jeff bought two Leichhardt restaurants – Pavarotti's and Pacino's on Norton St – restaurants to help fund JEF's work. Pacino's will be used for JEF's Hospitality Training Program, which gives the less fortunate an opportunity to gain hands-on training in the industry.

The couple hopes their 25-acre farm, which is run by volunteers, will become self-sufficient. It produces vegetables and livestock and gives homeless people the chance to learn some life-skills and regain their dignity during their stay.

The Gambins also fund housing projects, offer counselling services and help find jobs for homeless people through JEF.

Jeff Gambin was inspired to change his life when, all those years ago, a homeless man offered him a blanket on a winter's night.

Unlike the generous stranger, Gambin wasn't sitting on the bench in the cold because he was down on his luck – he had merely found a quiet place to sit down and think through some business negotiations.

Wish List

Some of the items on JEF's Wish List – which ranges from food to infrastructure and utilities – are included below. The organisation would greatly appreciate any donations.

• Seafood
• Meats
• Soft Drinks
• Cooking oils and condiments
• City-based dining premises
• Housing - demountables
• Farming equipment - irrigation, building materials, etc
• Television sets for temporary housing
• Telecommunications - mobile and land-line phone bills
• Removalist
• Trades expertise (Plumbers, Electricians, Shipwrights)

Find out more about Just Enough Faith and how you can help.

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The Centre for Volunteering [ABN 28 002 416 024]
Level 2, 228 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Ph 02 9261 3600 | Fax 02 9261 4033 | info@volunteering.com.au