Media Centre

Meal program encourages community connections

Publish Date: 12/07/2010
Author: Marketing & Communications Dept.

Baptcare’s ultimate goal is to ignite the flame of human vitality by addressing the social and financial, as well as physical, needs of individuals. One such example of this is Baptcare Orana’s weekend community meal program that is attended by approximately 140 financially and socially disadvantaged clients from the local area.

Every two weeks the team at Baptcare Orana in Tasmania prepares a Sunday Lunch for around 45 people who attend Orana’s programs.

This program has been running for nine years and is an important part of the way Baptcare seeks to support the local community. The program is accessed by clients seeking an introduction to Orana’s other programs or by clients who feel that they are “not quite ready for the day centre yet”.

“The Sunday Lunch program is designed to provide a nutritious and traditional Sunday roast that is shared with ‘family’ and friends. It provides socialisation opportunities in a home-like environment, where people who are lonely and/or socially isolated are able to make new friends and meet people who are in similar situations. For many of our clients, Orana is their only ‘family’”, states Ms Nita Bassett, Program Manager at Baptcare Orana.

Each fortnight the lunch is arranged for clients from different areas and in mid December, everyone joins together for a special Christmas lunch.

Occasionally Baptcare Orana organises volunteer entertainers such as a singer or a musician. Before the performance the entertainer usually enjoys lunch with the clients.

Clients with no means of transport are able to attend the lunches thanks to the support of volunteers who collect clients in a minibus or car.

A volunteer ‘clippie’ accompanies the bus driver to assist clients getting on and off the bus and also with fitting their seatbelts.
All volunteers receive a free meal as a thank you gesture for their wonderful support and time. Most importantly, their presence at the lunch further enriches the social opportunities for clients.

“Without this service, these people would feel detached from the world. This program allows them to connect with the local community, including with other clients, staff and volunteers,” said Ms Bassett.

The lunches are made possible by the voluntary assistance of local charities, church groups and community members. These groups include: Devonport Lions Club, Port Sorell Lions Club, Forth Valley Lions Club, Devonoprt Rotary Club, South East Devonport Rotary Club, Seventh Day Adventist Church, Uniting Church Evening Fellowship, Tasmanian Ambulance Service – Devonport, Zonta International and East Devonport Ladies Fellowship.

Baptcare Orana has touched the lives of many people in the local area. One woman telephoned Orana in tears after she had a fall and said, “I had nowhere else to turn to – I have no one but I need help”. All Orana’s programs, including the lunches, show the practical ways that Baptcare is able to ignite the flame of human vitality for people feeling vulnerable, alone or distressed.