Another weekly “free food” initiative commences in Millicent tonight.

The newly-formed Millicent Shares a Plate group will provide dozens of serves of spring vegetable minestrone soup and bread for those in need at the Millicent IGA supermarket.

A variety of home-made soups will be offered by teams of volunteer cooks on the coming Thursdays.

This community outreach act is in addition to the 60 free meals which are provided each Monday night at this venue by supermarket manager and New Heavan restaurant chef Sukhi Dhaliwal.

Millicent Shares a Plate was formed three months ago and comprises dozens of volunteers from Millicent and district.

It has sought donations of time along with cash, fresh produce and non-perishable goods.

Looking ahead to 2022, it is proposed that a central venue in Millicent will be used where recipients can dine together each Thursday.

Wattle Range Council donated $1000 to the new Millicent Shares a Plate group at its October meeting to enable the purchase of essential items and provide administrative oversight.

“There is an urgent need to support the homeless and disadvantaged people of the Millicent community through the provision of food,” Cr John Drew said in successfully moving his motion.

“The Millicent Shares a Plate group is an initiative of the Social Issues Committee and has taken its ideas from a very successful community group operating in Mount Gambier.”