By Parker McKenzie
Foothills Community Care is running their final Upwey Monday night community meal for 2021 on 20 December.
With current Covid restrictions they are offering hot takeaway meals along with fresh food parcels, which are available from 5pm until 6pm.
The Community meal is held in partnership with Upwey Baptist Community Church and held on the corner of Darling Ave and Burwood Highway, Upwey.
Foothill Community Care founder Stephen Barrington said the meals are an opportunity for people to connect and have a meal with others in the community.
“We’ve been running our Upwey meals for 6 years every Monday night now,” he said.
“There has been a change in the people coming for support over the past 12 to 18 months, we’ve still got people who are dealing with food insecurity, isolation and mental health issues coming along,
“Over the past 18 months it has been people having to come along because they’ve lost their job and aren’t eligible for government benefits.”
Foothills Community Care was established in 2002 to provide a safe space where people can connect and engage with the community as they address challenges like family and domestic violence, homelessness, addiction, poverty, mental health issues and social isolation.
The community meals have been running since 2015 and provide Upwey locals a place to hang out and have a meal.
The meals will recommence on Monday 7 February 2022.
