Uniting Church Friday free meals program needs more volunteers

The Wauchope Uniting Church Meals program is very grateful to volunteers and community members who help out.

"A big thank you to team leader Phil Marsden, and Ted Starr, our coordinator from the Uniting Church and all the crew of volunteers who come here week after week," said organiser Carol Higgins.

"Many thanks to local community members who have donated garden produce and other items to assist in our weekly meals program. Many in the area may well have tasted the appetising results in meals prepared each week.

"Generosity such as this is most appreciated, as well as being definitely evident in this area. Many thanks from all connected to Wauchope Uniting Church Community Meals. We are very grateful to our sponsors, Slater and Slater Real Estate and to all the other Wauchope businesses who help us, as well as the charity, OzHarvest," said Carol.

"Our meals are open to everyone. Just because they are in the church hall, we don't want people to think that we only cater for church people. We have people coming from all over.

Peter Campbell has been volunteering for 10 years, after he was invited to come for a meal. He began by helping to wash dishes, and now he prepares food. He comes for a few hours every week and has got to know some of the regulars.

"People who come get soup, and then a cooked meal and then a choice of desserts. It brings the community together, it gets people talking, and it's for everybody, especially older people who are on their own. It's one of their meeting places where they can come and chat to their friends and it goes on from there," he said.

"I get satisfaction from being involved with other people and doing something for the community. My philosophy is that we are all put on this earth to look after each other," he added.

George Watkins used to volunteer years ago, then stopped because he had a job, and three years ago, he came back to help out and finds it very rewarding.

Rose Benjamin has been volunteering for 18 months, and says she loves to see people enjoying the meals and having company.

Meals are every Friday, noon to 1.30pm in the church hall. To volunteer, contact Carol Higgins on 6585 2560 or 0488 525 600, or just come along to the Uniting Church hall in Hastings Street on a Friday morning before noon.