Shane serves sausages to the hungry locals at the community kitchen in Cranbourne on Tuesday.By Sarah Schwager
ABOUT 250 meals were served at Cranbourne’s second community kitchen on Tuesday.
Organisers were overwhelmed by the turnout, having to order pizzas on top of the cooked roast to meet the demand.
The first community kitchen, which kicked off at the Casey Café on 13 August, served 50 meals to people in need.
Despite the kitchen being advertised as starting at 5.30pm, organisers said there were people waiting for a meal from 4pm.
Cranbourne MP Jude Perera said the success of the second community kitchen meant it would be a regular event from now on, with the next already being planned.
“Our long-term goal is to sustain this initiative for our residents of Cranbourne,” Mr Perera said.
The Singh Family, who run soup kitchens out of Sacred Hearts Mission in St Kilda, took on the mission of setting up the kitchens in Cranbourne, Frankston North and Carrum Downs last month.
Phil Sealey, Casey Café owner and coordinator of the William Angliss hospitality program, and his students cooked and served up a menu of two roasts with gravy and vegetables as well as ice cream for the kids.
Casey councillor Steve Beardon said Cranbourne’s community kitchen has well and truly been embraced.
He said the next event was expected within a month or so, while a regular date was being discussed.
“With numbers expected in the hundreds we’ll also look at extending the hours as well,” he said.
