Some of the city's most disadvantaged will get a better start to their Saturday mornings after a local business signed on to provide free breakfasts.
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ACT Safe Shelter organiser Richard Griffiths has been hunting to find a willing vendor to resolve a gap in the system, which left several disadvantaged men in the lurch.
![ACT Safe shelter has been searching all winter for a willing venue to serve shelter guests a hot breakfast on Saturday morning. Coffee Ruckus owner Sastra Kurniadi agreed. Photo: Karleen Minney ACT Safe shelter has been searching all winter for a willing venue to serve shelter guests a hot breakfast on Saturday morning. Coffee Ruckus owner Sastra Kurniadi agreed. Photo: Karleen Minney](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/022dfd5c-6d4a-4b37-a95e-2047d35bb9cb/r0_0_1999_1272_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"The Early Morning Centre is not open on Saturday mornings so therefore there is no breakfast for any guests that go to the Salvation Army Hall on a Friday night," he said.
"We wanted to be able to give guests a voucher, literally a bacon and egg roll and a hot cup of coffee, they could redeem at a cafe in Braddon or Civic."
Mr Griffiths said thanks to a generous donation the money was there and ready to use.
It was just a matter of finding a nearby cafe that was open when the shelter closed at 7am on a Saturday morning to agree.
For those leaving and heading out into the winter cold having a spot to get some good food made a huge difference.
"It is only for those seeking shelter on Friday," he said. "We can't tell but the maximum will only be about eight vouchers."
Safe Shelter approached McDonalds in Braddon and several other cafes before reaching agreement with Coffee Rukus to run the voucher system for the first time on Saturday, July 8.
Cafe owner Sastra Kurniadi said the simple solution meant the cafe could be the link in the chain and help those facing challenges and sleeping rough to start the day right.
"I just thought we can do it and we will," he said. "If it works out we will continue to do it so long as they need."
Mr Griffiths said there was a stigma associated with homeless men but it was heartening that didn't get in the way of finding a solution and making life a little easier for those that need it most.