Karen and Denise were among the first people to join our Cooking Connections program. Karen visits Denise every couple of weeks to deliver a delicious home cooked meal. During Karen’s visits, the couple enjoy chatting over a cup of tea. They both look forward to their time together and are already building a lovely friendship.
Cooking Connections is a meal sharing program in which volunteer cooks are matched with older Bayside residents who are finding cooking more difficult or may have few social connections
Volunteer cooks prepare an additional serving of their regular home cooked meal and deliver it to their diner weekly or fortnightly. They can have a chat during meal delivery or might even enjoy a cuppa together. It’s a great opportunity to improve everyone’s wellbeing through social connection.
“It’s really easy and it’s not a time-consuming thing,” said Karen “It’s very rewarding in the sense that I love to have a chat with Denise and hope that she is enjoying something that I have made which is hopefully helping her.”
Denise replied, “We love it, I feel very lucky to have Karen come and visit.”
Karen also noted how wonderful it is to meet someone she wouldn’t usually interact with.
Do you want to get involved?
We’re looking for volunteer cooks to become involved in this rewarding program. If you can spare the odd extra serve of your cooking and a little bit of your time, we’d love to hear from you.
Cooks and diners are matched according to their food preferences and needs, general interests, location and whether they’re keen for a quick chat at the door or something more.
Cooking Connections volunteer Karen and diner Denise enjoying a chat and cuppa.
