By Brendan Rees
A social enterprise cafe in Cranbourne has joined forces with a Dandenong charity by donating meal packs to help residents facing difficulties during the crisis.
L’Arte Central is working together with We Care Community Services, which supplies free food, bedding, clothing and food to residents of Dandenong experiencing hardship.
The cafe’s non-executive directive Anthony Cheeseman, who assisted with its launch last October, said they were “doing their best” to stay open through its takeaway service after feeling the effects of the coronavirus shutdown.
As a result of the pandemic, the cafe’s sales have dropped about 60 per cent.
“You can literally do 15 to 20 transactions a day because people are scared to go out,” Mr Cheeseman said.
However, the cafe – which was keen “to help people through these times” – had struck a deal with We Care by offering to donate the not-for-profit one meal pack for every two lunch or dinner packs it sold.
Mr Cheeseman said it was a win-win for everyone – by helping keeping its staff employed and distributing food to those doing it tough.
“It’s in these challenging and most difficult times that we all need to help each other,“ he said.
The cafe had been established to bridge the gap between mental health and employment, providing placements for between eight and 20 jobseekers – to assist their work related skills, experience and qualifications.
But following the impact of coronavirus, it was forced to lay off some of its casual staff, however, a young man undertaking a patisserie apprenticeship was kept on.
Mr Cheeseman, who wasn’t drawing a wage from the cafe due to the crisis, said he was also made redundant from his full-time job with Michel’s Patisserie – but says he does it for the “love” and was happy to keep the cafe’s doors open as well as bring “a smile” to people’s faces.
“Once I get the NDIS up and running as well as job networks we’ll be able to produce some income that can be really good for the cafe,” he said.
But in a sign of hope, Mr Cheeseman said Casey Council had advised him they were planning to organise a food relief program with an unknown donor – who was happy to pay the cafe for 100 meals packs per week, which would be distributed to the needy.
The cafe’s menu includes spaghetti Bolognese, beef lasagne, shepherd’s pie, curried sausages, Thai green curry, a full range of home-made pies, desserts and more.
The cafe at is open between 10am to 2pm from Tuesday to Saturday. To place an order phone 9017 0221 or visit their Facebook page.
