Monday Lunch

Monday Lunch is an outreach ministry of St Paul's in the form of a drop-in lunch centre. It was established after research showed there was a need for such a ministry within the local community.

Volunteer workers were needed to provide this service, and were sought from amongst the parishioners of St Paul's. The response was most positive with many offering to make soup to accompany bread rolls. The Brumby's Bread group were approached, and they kindly agreed to supply the Church with surplus bread rolls and loaves. It was decided by vestry to provide funds for milk, margarine and other items as needed. In all, about 20 volunteers offered their services; enabling St Paul's to provide a free lunch to many within the community.

Monday Lunch takes place each Monday, except on public holidays, from 12 noon until
1 pm in the parish hall. All meals are prepared and served from the kitchen.

Over the years, Monday Lunch has been a wonderful success, providing a much-needed ministry to a wide spectrum of people. Many who attend are desperately in need of support of various kinds, be it illness (both physical and psychological), loneliness, unemployment and rejection. There they find a caring and helpful spirit, and possibly someone else who is experiencing similar hardship and pain.

Over the last two months there has been an increase in the number of food parcels handed out to our Monday lunch guests. It is felt that the economy has much to do with this. Even though we control the distribution, limiting each person to no more than five items. We are so grateful for the parish alms basket each Sunday.

If anyone is aware of companies which have a surplus of food items which could be added to our food parcels, we would be most grateful.

Many and diverse are the people who come through our doors, there is no discrimination, since all have specific needs for which we try to cater.