A CHANCE conversation has led to a meals program being cooked up for needy clients of Mornington Community Information and Support Centre.
It began when Mt Martha restaurant Volpino owner David Weill was speaking with a customer about his struggles in keeping the restaurant open during the stage three COVID-19 restrictions. Without ceremony, the generous customer donated $1000 to help keep staff employed.
This led to a charity, the Mornington Peninsula Foundation, putting the restaurant in touch with support centre manager Stuart Davis-Meehan and Mornington Peninsula Shire.
The restaurant’s staff now prepare, pack and label freshly cooked meals which shire staff take to the support centre. Volunteers then deliver the meals to clients confined to their homes during COVID-19.
“The meals are terrific – a welcome addition to the centre’s weekly food parcels,” support centre manager Stuart Davis-Meehan said. “It’s a classic ground-up response from the community, which is asking itself ‘What can we do to help?’”
Mr Weill said he and his staff had been touched by the community response: “These local acts of kindness and generosity are warming our hearts.”
A further $2000 has been donated helping keep Volpino’s staff employed and needy residents fed for a while longer.
First published in the Mornington News – 21 April 2020
