elishacare is a not-for-profit organisation built with a strong community restoring hope, value and purpose to people with addictions and suffering the consequences. Drugs change brains—and this can lead to addiction and other serious problems.

Risk of drug abuse increases greatly during times of transition. For over 10 years now, Geoff Marsh has recognised the need to reach out to individuals going through hard times by inviting them to sit with him for a coffee and a chat on the streets of Croydon. This has expanded over the years to a team of dedicated volunteers, recovered men and women to a number of employees helping others in situations of abuse.
 

We house the homeless, employ the unemployed, rally around families for added connection and support. 

Our organisation proves that having a close community can rehabilitate the addicted mind to live a healthy life and invest in themselves once again.

One of the pathways to recovery is giving the opportunity for inclusion and self-satisfaction through volunteering their time whilst staying connected through the working day. This can also lead to employment through our garden & building maintenance social enterprise once ‘stabilised’ and contributing positively with the team.

Weekly catch ups are an essential part to continue to open our hearts and minds to new faces each Friday at our headquarters in Croydon. This gives everyone the opportunity to chat about the important transitional phases they may be facing and relate to others whilst picking up skills on how to handle these life changing circumstances in a healthy way. Anyone is welcome to join us in conversation and morning tea.

For more details on connecting with us please phone Geoff on 0417 393 014.

History

by Geoff Marsh

I moved to a small country town when I was 15 years old to begin my apprenticeship as a carpenter, and was so very grateful to my Uncle and Aunty for taking me in and for my cousin who gave me the job. I began playing footy with the local team, hanging out with the boys around town and fitting right into the small country environment.

Sounds all very exciting, but sadly over the next 10 years this young, insecure, city boy, who tried way too hard to fit in, slipped into abusing alcohol, abusing people and abusing himself, with many scars to show for it. During this time, I had also got my girlfriend pregnant and became the father to an amazing little boy Daniel, but because of my destructive lifestyle I had separated with his Mum before he was one. It was my precious little boy that I longed to father well and get my life sorted out for, and this became the turning point in my life.

With amazing supportive parents, I begun the recovery journey, and it was to be the best decision I have ever made. I met my wife, Linda and within 2 years our first Daughter Sharayah had arrived, and to top it all off, this amazing woman had embraced my son as her own, and I was now living a dream.

After a few years my passion and desire became more evident to care for those that were struggling with various life issues. And so it was, that for the next 8 or so years we spent time on the streets, at the train stations, in court rooms or visiting prisons, listening to others that are desperately crying out for new life. This was a very special season, and during this time we met some amazing people and saw some wonderful things go on around us.

At the end of 2005, A small group of us started hanging out at a coffee shop in Main Street Croydon, with the intention of being in the middle of “the mess”, meeting people, some we knew and some we didn’t. It wasn’t long before this group grew, as people longed to come have a chat, a coffee and talk about the struggles that were going on. And so birthed “elishacare”, a community of people that loved hanging out with one another. It started at the coffee shop but wasn’t long before people were meeting wherever they could to share their life and talk about their desire to get back on track. We would have lots of BBQ’s or meet in the park, gather at people’s houses and just find any excuse we could to gather. It became a regular thing to take those we had met, out into the homes of people desperately needing some help with an overgrown garden, or a clean-up inside, some rubbish removed or whatever the job was, and as we worked together, we grew together.

It was so wonderful to watch it grow organically. We started leasing houses that were offered to us, being able to provide safe places to live was a huge issue and this also gave us an opportunity for a greater sense of community. Girls support groups started up, a group called “The Well” began, where we would come and share, cry, and laugh together.

It has been an amazing journey of learning what it is to love others, meeting them in their deepest moments of brokenness. What a privilege it is to bring hope to desperate people, walking with them and watching them grow into people learning to care for others themselves.

There is so much more and we would love to share with you, so drop us a line, come and get to know us and see the truly incredible life transformations.

Geoff.