A RETIRED engineer turned cook is offering free nourishing meals every Wednesday afternoon at the Maleny RSL.
Realising that even subsidised meals could prove too expensive for people in need, Maleny resident, Brian Nixon, decided to offer completely free meals once a week from a ‘pop up’ community kitchen every Wednesday afternoon from 4.30pm-6.30pm at the Maleny RSL.
Brian said since launching the initiative in early September he, along with team members Maggie Beal and Rayna Bond, had received generous donations from local food retailers such as Maleny IGA, Woolworths and Maleny Cheese.
Brian said he has previously volunteered as a cook for five years with the Maleny Neighbourhood Centre’s and knew community members may be struggling to pay for meals, or suffering from loneliness.
“Our community kitchen is open to anyone who could benefit from this free service. We offer a ‘one bowl wonder’ using whatever has been donated to us for the week, but it’s always a freshly made bowl of nourishing food,” he said.
Maleny RSL president, Paul Gilmour-Walsh, said the RSL was excited to support the initiative, and the club was always pleased to look at ways they could assist people in the community. “As soon as Brian approached us about the idea we jumped straight in at the chance to support it… anyone can turn up each week, whether it’s people doing it tough, veterans or someone who just want to drop in for a yarn and a free meal,” Paul said.
Brian said he wants people to take advantage of this initiative, for more details, call Brian 0412 033 304.
Main image: Community Kitchen Volunteers Maggie Beal, Brian Nixon and Rayna Bond
