More than 40 vulnerable Mount Gambier residents were invited to ac.care’s second CEO Lunch recently to enjoy a fine dining experience, connect with one another and mark the start of 2021 Anti-Poverty Week.
This year’s event was boosted with professional chef Don Pratt donating food and his expertise to prepare the three-course meal alongside his Confession Coffee House co-owner Sam Johnston.
Other donations of funds and produce from the Limestone Coast community also supported the event with ac.care client and volunteer Cheryl enjoying participating in the function.
“I joined in with some other clients that I previously did not know, had the opportunity to socialise and get to know them and had a lovely three course meal while chatting with everyone and getting to know them,” she said.
“It was so good to also learn all the other things ac.care is doing in the community to help people out.”
Staff were glad to see the lunch return in 2021 after it could not proceed in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions following the success of the inaugural event in 2019.
The concept was sparked when an ac.care staff member was heating up her lunch of leftover roast in the communal area at the Mount Gambier Community Centre and a client said “I cannot remember the last time I had a roast meal”.
This overheard remark prompted ac.care’s inaugural 2019 “CEO’s Lunch”.
Mr Pratt said it was a pleasure to be involved with the organisation and contribute to this year’s event.
“It was a good opportunity to meet those in the community who otherwise might not get a chance to enjoy a three course meal and a pleasure cooking for them and just getting down there and seeing what a great job ac.care does and what they offer,” he said.
Staff decorated rooms at the site to provide a pop-up gourmet restaurant at the community centre, which is the base for the Limestone Coast Homelessness Service.
Clients of ac.care’s housing program and other services, along with regular visitors to the centre, were personally invited to the three-course lunch function.
Chief executive officer Shane Maddocks, homelessness and community services manager Trish Spark and other staff contributed as waiters.
The lunch was not only welcomed by invitees, but other people who dropped by the centre on the day and were treated to a meal.
Mr Maddocks thanked Mr Pratt, the team at Confession and the broader community.
He said donations and other contributions allowed ac.care to continue to expand its impact by providing additional services for vulnerable people, such as the luncheon.
“We were really excited to be able to provide a proper sit-down meal where people could come and enjoy a three-course meal, but also share fellowship with each other and be waited on by myself and staff at the centre,” he said.
“This is important to give back to the clients who trust us by coming into the community centre so we can support their needs, but also to let them know that we really value them as people, they are important and they deserve to have a decent meal and to be waited on and enjoy sharing the meal with each other.”
The country agency is also supporting Anti-Poverty Week campaigns focused on raising income support above the poverty line and investing in social housing.
