The Penola community rallied once again when five local women travelled to Adelaide to cook up a Christmas in July meal at Ronald McDonald House.

The event was part of the Meals from the Heart program and is the third time that group have participated.

Gifts for the children, Christmas decorations and the aroma of home style cooking wafted through the dining room and once the dinner bell rang, the room soon filled.

Participant Angela Winter was delighted with how the special event turned out.

“As usual we were lucky enough to source all of the ingredients locally which are all generously donated and that enabled us to provide a delicious hot Christmas dinner with all the trimmings,” she said.

Approximately 39 meals were served with several others placed into take away containers for families.

“Having sick children is very difficult, especially being away from home, and to see the smiles on the kids’ faces is so rewarding and we know they appreciate our simple gesture,” Mrs Winter said.

Ronald McDonald House Charities South Australia bring families together and to do something as simple as cooking and have a mother say her normally picky eating child asked for seconds was truly heart warming.

The Penola community raised $3610, which will be used to purchase new bed furnishings for the rooms.

McDonalds restaurants have matched this amount dollar for dollar so a total of $6320 is going back into the house.

An online auction was also held to raise funds.

“Thankyous always come up short in this situation but we truly appreciate all the support we get from the community,” Mrs Winter said.

“However big thanks go to Diana Clayfield, Anne Johnson, Jennifer Tocaciu, Anne-Marie Williams, Angela Winter, Vintage Café, Penola Foodland, Pooginagoric Turkeys, Joanne Turley, Dianne Merrett, Nate and Sam Smith, Jazzy and Jo Edwards, Prince of Wales Hotel Motel, Otway Pasta Company, Windara Bakery and all who donated and purchased in the online auction.”