By Faith Macale
A Bacchus Marsh food support program will host a Christmas lunch this year, to ensure no one goes without.
Soul Food Program, which provides a free, hot lunch each Wednesday at the St Andrew’s Uniting Church hall, is preparing to serve up to 200 meals on December 25 to families in need.
Program co-ordinator Jenny Kearney said the volunteers try their best to accommodate as many guests as possible, but they are feeling the pressure to keep up.
“Reverse advent hampers will be handed out to our families, provided by the St Andrew’s Uniting Church,“ she said.
“We also provide presents to some families for use on Christmas Day. We currently have 100 presents to source for the children.“
Ms Kearney said Soul Food wouldn’t be able to hold a Christmas event without the support of the community.
She said grants and donations of food and new toys were always welcomed.
“Together, we can assist the most vulnerable members of our local community to have a wonderful Christmas,“ she said.
The Soul Food Program has been running for 16 years.
Ms Kearney said that in 2020, the program provided 2800 meals for the year. By last year, the program’s volunteers had dished up 6500 meals.
“This year is on track to be over 8000 meals,“ she said.
“We have been required to extend our services to provide fresh fruit and veg, bread, crisis groceries, clothing, bedding and bathroom products, to name a few.
“There’s more need out there that we can possibly cope with.
“It’s a challenge for people to manage, but it’s a struggle for them to ask for it, as well.”
