At 18 years old, Evie was juggling her TAFE studies, job seeking, and her increasing mental health struggles.
“I was trying to do school and balancing paying my rent and getting food,” says Evie. “It wasn’t always balanced. I couldn’t afford everything. I was suffering with mental health issues at the same time.”
Money was tight and it often left Evie choosing between paying for food or paying for her medication.
“Medication was expensive and having to finance and budget…some days I didn’t eat,” says Evie. “And then there was even some weeks where I was without medication.”
The pressure left her mental health in a bad state.
“I was really suffering with my mental health,” she says. “My anxiety was through the roof, and I didn’t have many friends after I left high school. I’d have panic attacks on the daily. I wanted to just stay in one place and not move. And there were days where I didn’t want to get out of bed. I was depressed, anxious. You know, every negative feeling under the sun. I’d felt it.
“It was hard. Really hard.”
On her way home from TAFE one evening, Evie got off the train and saw a big, brightly coloured bus near the station. The bus was parked and was bustling with activity. It drew Evie in.
Evie discovered that it was ADRA’s Community Bus in Pakenham, Victoria – a mobile “centre” that ADRA runs its local community program from. Once a week, the bus parks outside the local library and offers food parcels, clothing, and case management and referral services. It was exactly the support Evie needed.
“To be able to walk onto the bus and everybody was so kind and nice,” she says. “All these amazing people of a faith and all they wanted to do was help me. It was overwhelming. But in a good way.
“Even on that one day I got so much help. I got groceries, referrals to other services to help me with my mental health, and with my disabilities as well.”
Discovering the ADRA bus provided Evie with the support she needed.
“I stabilised after the first few weeks of coming to the bus,” says Evie. “I was emotionally better. My finances got better. And I made so many new friends. And now I keep coming back.”
But what really anchored Evie was the faith in God that she found through ADRA.
“Because of ADRA, I’ve found my faith in God,” says Evie. “The same day I came to the project, one of the girls at the bus had heard that I was going through a crisis of faith. She offered to take me to church with her one Sabbath, and I’ve been there ever since.”
Evie began weekly bible studies through her local Seventh-day Adventist Church.
“I made the decision to give my life to God. I was baptised and decided to join the Seventh-day Adventist Church.”
Evie was baptised in 2024, surrounded by her ADRA and church family. Looking back on where she came from, Evie is filled with gratitude.
Evie says, “It’s been a few years now since I started getting help through ADRA and it’s been good. It’s been really good. My mental health is stable. I’ve got friends, lots of friends. More than I can count on one hand! I’ve got a beautiful church. And I’ve got God.
“If I hadn’t met the ADRA team I’d probably still be in the same position I was in, struggling to pay for food. My mental health wouldn’t be what it is now. I would still be a socially awkward, depressed person. I wouldn’t have as many friends as I do now. And I probably wouldn’t have my faith either. My financial situation may not be always be the best, but, once you’ve got God, that’s kind of all you need.
“Spiritually, I learned a lot through the bus. You know that God gives us this opportunity to help others, and that’s what I want to do.”
The cost of living is forcing Aussies like Evie to choose between food and medication. They need your support. This October, you can Love Thy Neighbour by helping Aussies in need. Give today at adra.org.au/donate