“We make sure we never judge people for the situations they’re in, and we treat everyone with respect. The more people you meet and the stories you hear the more you realise these things could happen to anyone.”
Gary and Rosemary have been working with and supporting Micah Projects for over ten years through their small business, All Areas Rubbish Removal. What initially started as a single rubbish removal job quickly expanded, after members of the Micah team saw that Gary had access to a truck, and a great attitude to helping people.
“Before I knew it we were taking on a range of jobs for Micah, helping them move people into homes, helping deliver donated items to people who need them, and whatever other tasks we can do to help,” Gary said.
“The Micah staff are great people to work with. They don’t have an easy job sometimes, but they’re always working to help people. It is inspiring and it’s great to be a part of that.”
“We’re a small family business but we try to do our bit. We know Micah is doing good work so we don’t charge the earth, we cover all the insurance, and if they need us to work to midnight for someone who is having a crisis, then we’ll work till midnight.”
“Some of our favourite job runs with Micah were where we had the chance to really go above and beyond what we were being paid for. Like the time this guy was short of money to pay the late fee on his storage rental and we helped him cover it so he could get his belongings. Or the time a guy we were helping to move split his head open, and we phoned for the ambulance, continued the move and stayed with his dog until everyone was okay.”
Every job is different. It’s never boring. And the real reward comes when the faces of the people you’re helping just light up. Sometimes they look at you and smile and you know the thank you is coming from their heart, even if they can’t find the words to say it.
Gary says he enjoys the opportunity to bring a positive attitude to the work.
“We make sure we never judge people for the situations they’re in, and we treat everyone with respect. The more people you meet and the stories you hear the more you realise these things could happen to anyone.”
Gary says his casual, gentle giant appearance also brings something extra to their work with Micah.
“Sometimes the people Micah are helping can be very nervous or reluctant when it comes to authority figures. And as lovely as the Micah team are, sometimes people prefer to talk to me because I’m just the helper. And if that helps, then great.”
Gary says the days that his company gets to do work with Micah Projects are his favourite work days.
“Some days I feel like I have the best job in the world.”