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“Let’s just do it,” was Elizabeth Bartlett’s attitude about helping feed those in need, after a recent community meeting about the homelessness issue in Gloucester.
Since then, she worked to contact all the people from the meeting who put their names down to help, held another meeting, and from there has started “Food With Friends.”
With the support of 16 volunteers, willing to cook on a rotation basis, the community kitchen provided its first meal on Wednesday, May 3.
The Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Hall has donated the space for the weekly lunch to take place.
“It’s a nice hall,” Elizabeth said. “It’s cosy.”
She said she had the idea for a community kitchen for a while, but it wasn’t until the recent meeting, that she decided it was time to act.
“Poverty is invisible,” she said.
Elizabeth would like to make the community aware that there are people in town who are struggling to “make ends meat.”
“It’s getting worse and I think we should do something before it gets out of control.” she said.
Lunches will be served on Wednesday afternoons from for anyone to come along, to help and enjoy.
Volunteers will start cooking at 10am with lunch at 12pm.
“We are a group of Gloucester residents who want to help out,” she said.
“The goal is to provide a delicious, nourishing meal, once a week, every week for free, for people in need of food or friendship.”
The goal is to provide a delicious, nourishing meal, once a week, every week for free, for people in need of food or friendship.
- Elizabeth Bartlett
Lunch is open to anyone who wants to come alone for a meal with new friends.
Diners can donate, offer to help in the kitchen or just enjoy the meal.
The group has been given a few one-off donations, which has helped get things going, but ultimately Elizabeth would like to see a regular, small contribution, in order for the program to keep going.
She has worked out that five dollars per month from 64 people will feed an average of 20 people four meals a month.
Anyone interested in getting involved can stop by the SDA Hall on Wednesdays or contact Elizabeth on 0468 654 367 or 6558 1186.