Mirboo North’s community are invited to a free, home-cooked two-course lunch next month, celebrating Seniors Month with a meal made possible by a heartwarming local partnership.
The lunch, which will be held at noon on Wednesday 14th October at St Mary’s Hall (114 Ridgway), is brought together by three local organisations. The meal will be prepared by Hope Kitchen, a volunteer-run initiative of St Mary’s Anglican Church that provides free home-cooked meals to the community every fortnight. Funding for the event comes from the Community Foundation’s Mirboo North Community Seniors Fund, which supports local initiatives for older residents. And in a lovely intergenerational touch, hospitality students from Mirboo North Secondary College will help prep and then wait on tables, giving guests a relaxed, restaurant-style experience, while the students gain valuable hands-on experience of their own.
“We’re excited to be involved in celebrating Seniors’ Month and warmly welcome local residents to come along, enjoy a meal and spend some time together. We especially want to encourage anyone who could use a chat, some company or have just had a tough week and could use a warm meal and some conversation,” says Monti Voigt of Hope Kitchen and the Mirboo North Schools’ Chaplain.
The Victorian Seniors Festival takes place every October to celebrate positive aging and those over 60. There will be many free or low cost events in South Gippsland and locally, so keep an eye out.
“It is exciting to be partnering with Hope Kitchen and the Secondary College to provide a new opportunity for celebrating Seniors month,” says Ruth Rogan, Executive Officer of the Community Foundation. “The Mirboo North Community Seniors Fund was set up with a significant donation when the Seniors Citizens group wound down. It now provides grant support for projects, program and events which support the older members of our community.”
Hope Kitchen is one of two organisations that provide our community with access to food every single Thursday. Every fortnight, Hope Kitchen’s team of volunteers cook and provide meals to anyone in the community who needs one, and every other fortnight Hope N Help provide access to fresh food and groceries from the MN Grainstore.
This luncheon is a chance to slow down, share a table, and celebrate Seniors Month together.
Places are limited, so early booking is essential.
To reserve a spot, contact Monti on 0458 003 179 or email: monti.voigt@education.vic.gov.au.