Croydon Park's Lyn and Ian Thornell are "fairly new Christians' so they were a bit apprehensive about asking people to donate food for the needy " cars full of kindness was the last thing they expected.
"One lady gave us what looked like a week's shopping," Mr Thornell says.
"Four jam-packed shopping bags. She told us she'd received welfare packages in the past and this was her way of giving something back."
The food drive was part of a push by All Saints', Petersham to connect with their local community.
"We've been looking to help in practical ways that would demonstrate how the Christian faith motivates us to act in love towards others," says All Saints senior minister, the Rev Antony Barraclough.
"We decided that a good way to achieve this was to door knock the surrounding suburbs collecting food parcels for Anglicare's Marrickville office."
The parish letter-boxed the area, letting them know the church would come knocking.
A team of close to 30 parishioners then took to the streets in Petersham, Enmore and Marrickville, asking people to donate and handing out invitations to an evangelistic service.
Close to 2,500 homes were contacted in a single day.
Before too long car load after car load of groceries were making their way to Anglicare.
Members collected over 60 cartons of food and the church is still fielding calls from people wishing to donate provisions.
Ian Thornell says inner-city residents seem to understand need.
"One older gentleman was sitting on his porch when we walked up. It cost him a lot to get up and move into the kitchen," he recalls.
"But when he came back he was carrying two arms full of groceries."
All Saints', Petersham is the Thornell's first spiritual home.
They saw moving beyond the church pew as an essential step and were encouraged to see how ready people were to listen.
"Most people were ready to have a bit of a talk," says Lyn Thornell.
"We were surprised at the number of people who read the pamphlet we handed them with real interest," she says.
The invitation to an "Open For Inspection' church service specifically targeted inquirers into the Christian faith, and gave donors an opportunity to hear first-hand the thanks of a grateful Anglicare representative.
"It's a brilliant idea," says South Sydney regional bishop Robert Forsyth.
"It's an excellent soft-touch for the gospel; an easy way of creating contacts."
Bishop Forsyth is encouraging other parishes in the region to take up All Saints' example.
