IT’S a cold and rainy Tuesday evening as the volunteers start to prepare the weekly meal at Swan Hill’s A Good Kitchen.
The meal is barbecue sausages, onion gravy and vegetables, followed by fruit salad and custard.
Dedicated volunteers bring the effort together, but more are needed.
A Good Kitchen, an initiative by the Society of St Vincent de Paul, was started in 2018 after it was discovered that food relief recipients often did not have kitchen facilities for cooking a hot meal.
Not only is a hot meal provided, but also a range of groceries and other items for guests to take home to keep them going during the week.
Wendy Hayes, an office manager for Swan Hill Packaging, volunteers at A Good Kitchen in her spare time.
Most Tuesdays she can be found, with about 13 other volunteers, helping out at the Catholic Parish Function Centre in Splatt Street.
Ms Hayes said that every Tuesday they served their guests two courses.
“We also lay out the tables with donated goods and products so that guests that are really doing it tough get to take some food home.
“There is also a lot of clothing donated as well so we also put those out.
“At the moment we are doing our winter drive, we are trying to get jumpers, coats and socks.
“This is my happy place,” Ms Hayes said with a smile.
Another volunteer, Helen Fordham, thought she would like to work once a month, but is now involved every week and has become one of the managers.
“I’m now on the committee and I’m here every week, I love every bit of it.
“It’s great to be social with our guests that come in,” she said.
Founder Goodie Hiensch said the idea was to give people a full belly so they slept better and woke up with a clearer mind.
“Knowing from personal experience, you can’t sleep because your stomach is empty.
“It’s important to make sure everyone gets a good feed.
“On average we will have 40 guests each week, but have catered up to 104.
“I’ve got an excellent crew, these guys are just magic.
“On an average night we need 13 volunteers. We do have 37 on our books but could use a lot more.
“We have a few groups also put their hands up to host a night for us, including a couple of primary schools.
“I really love it when our volunteers sit down with our guests and they all get to know each other better.
“We have built such a good relationship that when someone is missing we want to know why because they are part of a family.
“We have built a family here and we are very protective of our guests,” Ms Hiensch said.
