Dinners to reconnect Westport residents

• Published date: 22 June 2022
• Author: Rose O'Connor
• Publication title: West Coast Messenger, The

Number Thirty-seven Community House recognised the floods had disconnected many residents from their community and set up the weekly Tuesday evening event

Spokeswoman Janine Colville said funding had been secured to employ a chef to create delicious, nutritious meals using the Westport RSA kitchen facilities. Dessert was also provided.

"People can either dine in, collect meals or have them delivered. We are lucky enough to have many volunteers helping both at the RSA and with deliveries," Ms Colville said. "But we are always keen for more."

About 150 meals were catered for each Tuesday night. Any spare meals were frozen and allocated to families requiring them through Number Thirty-seven. They also run a free community dinner on a Thursday from 12pm, at the Community House.

"We use to have about 30 attending the lunches before the floods last year but that has dwindled to about four regulars. That shows the level of disconnection our residents are experiencing," Ms Colville said.

About 12 elderly residents had dined at the RSA...