By MELISSA MEEHAN
RESIDENTS of Emerald and surrounding areas are invited to Dig In.
But community dinner organiser Michelle Perera doesn’t just want people to dig in to the delicious meal on offer – but to dig in to the community as well.
“Yes, it’s a community meal,” she said.
“But you don’t have to be struggling to come along.
“It’s about checking in, finding out what’s happening in town, what services are available – it’s really about getting the community together.”
Ms Perera said organisers were always looking for volunteers to help in any way they can.
“People can volunteer their time, preparing meals, serving meals, tiding up, food donations or cash donations,” she said.
“For us, it’s a whole of community approach.”
She said organisers had received a lot of support from local businesses including Emerald Village Bakery which donated baked goods on Fridays and Green Gully Farm which donated amazing produce.
“Others have come in when they have too many pumpkins in their garden or if they have other excess produce,” she said.
“Everything we get we use and any money we make on the night is used to provide for the next community meal.”
Ms Perera said that she hoped to roll out the program to other areas within the Dandenongs.
The next town she plans to open is Cockatoo.
“We’ve got people coming from Cockatoo, Belgrave South, Belgrave, Maccelsfield and Avonsleigh – it’s not just Emerald,” she said.
“Last time we had about 70 people come in – and each time it seems to grow, people come in and tell their friends who might benefit from it.”
The Dig In Café runs on the last Friday of every month at the Emerald Community Hall, next to Emerald Community House, from 6pm to 8pm.
For more information visit www.facebook.com/DigInCafe.
