A new monthly lunch run by a dedicated group of volunteers is providing community connection and food access in Scarsdale.
The Scarsdale Hall Committee has started a new “Welcome Wednesday” community lunch which not only provides the local community an opportunity to connect with each other but also delivers food relief.
Supported by community donations from the Linton and Cape Clear food pantries, Golden Plains Local Food Network, Haddon Community Learning Centre and Foodbank Ballarat, the first lunch kicked off at the Scarsdale Community Hall on Wednesday 3 September with more than 40 people attending.
Scarsdale Hall Committee member Rhonda Edwards said the idea for the event began as a way to promote social connection.
“Originally we had the idea it would be a community inclusion event but we decided to put on a lunch and it has been absolutely wonderful,” Rhonda said.
“We all know there are people struggling and they just need someone to talk to, so to be able to do that and come along to pick up some food as well is just a really good thing to do.”
Rhonda said the support from volunteers across Golden Plains Shire was the reason the lunch had been successful.
“We’ve just been amazed to see all the volunteers come along and help with the cooking and the cleaning and keeping everything running like clockwork because we’re all together,” she said.
“There’s been people from Cape Clear, Linton and Happy Valley, not just from the hall committee and that just makes such a difference, it’s been wonderful.”
The “Welcome Wednesday” lunch takes place on the first Wednesday of each month at the Scarsdale Community Hall from 10am to 2pm.