A project for all Clubs to get involved in.
This request for assistance has come from Gillian Jones, Past District Governor (2020-21), Rotary District 9940.
This project is about feeding the homeless in downtown Auckland organised by PDG Gillian Jones D9940, daughter Nicky, who lives in Grey Lynn and for several years she has been part of a group of women from Ponsonby and Grey Lynn who support homeless people in Downtown Auckland, by providing evening meals to them on a weekly, (now fortnightly basis).
Regrettably, the group are now considering winding up as one of the key people has gone overseas and the other organisers - a couple - are finding the ongoing commitment too onerous and expensive, having done it for a number of years.
While some of the people who provide and cook meals, including Nick are happy to continue, they are now looking for someone to organise this project. If someone isn’t found, the work will stop in a few weeks.
Some background: This is a group of up to 150 people, feeding 70-80 on a Thursday night – now down to every second Thursday because they have started sharing with another group (of students). A number of people cook meals which are delivered in individual serves in plastic containers. They usually provide meals such as roast chicken, pork or beef with veges, but sometimes Lasagna and bakes. Dessert is often a trifle of sorts (cake toppers donated by Bluebells), mixed with custard and tinned fruit.
All the meals provided are already cooked. They use the community kitchen at 56 Great North Rd to prep from 4.30pm on the Thursday to pack the cooked meals if not already packed. Then take it down to Wellesley Street, set up tables and hand out with a bread roll and drink (water or raro) at 6pm
They have a few shops that regularly donate food, Bacio in Herne Bay for bread rolls and baked items and Bluebells for cake toppers. Everything else is donated by the people who cook and serve. Ideally there are 4 people who can do the prep and 4 or 5 who can serve. If you do both duties it is a commitment of 4.30 to 7pm.
It is understood that Home ground, (City Mission) have recently started providing breakfast and lunch but not dinner. Some other independent groups also provide food on different days of the week – Sunday Blessings (a church group), provides on a Sunday.
It is quite expensive for private individuals to cook for that number – around $50 per night for the women who cook. It would ideally be supported by fundraising. One of the existing women is considering going out to look for free publicity to get more people involved.
Is this something that your club could take on as a readymade project? If we got several Rotary Clubs taking one Thursday of the month per year the load is lightened!.
The current organisers are happy to participate in a zoom meeting to go through the logistics of the project. Also, any Rotarians and or clubs interested in learning more about the project are able to go down to the kitchen on Thursday 24th November to help gin a better understanding.
Alternatively, contact Ashwini Sadhu or Kirsten Flannery , President RC of Auckland for more information
Ashwini Sadhu 021305261