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Hearty meal before Christmas

VOLUNTEERS from Haven; Home Safe and A Good Kitchen served an early Christmas meal to people doing it tough in Swan Hill.

Last Monday, volunteers from Haven cooked a “traditional dinner” for the guests to “enjoy a traditional meal”.

Assertive outreach worker Goodie Hiensch said the meal complemented Grain Shed Church of Christ’s community Christmas Day lunch.

“We couldn’t do our meal last year because it was a matter of conflict (with the Grain Shed),” Ms Hiensch said.

“Haven likes to come in and help as much as they can.

“They did a really good job when we had Homelessness Week.”

Ms Hiensch said although meals were served in a building associated with the Catholic Church, those attending don’t have to attend church services.

“There’s no denomination. Anyone can walk in the doors,” she said.

Ms Hiensch said their organisations were entwined to complement each other.

“For those that wouldn’t come here and are a bit shy or whatever, the ute would go and pick them up and bring them in,” she said.

“Then the ute would take them to whatever their home is.”

Ms Hiensch is the founder of A Good Kitchen, a volunteer-run kitchen feeding anyone who comes through their doors.

Haven; Home Safe provides services to the homeless and disadvantaged.

Haven; Home Safe assertive outreach worker Kelly Thomas said their service assists them with “whatever they needed to do”.

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