IT'S TIME for the Cornerstone Kitchen to get cooking again after the COVID-19 shutdown.
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Volunteers will meet at the Coledale Community Centre kitchen tomorrow morning to whip up homemade meals for Tamworth locals in need, for the first time in more than three months.
Cornerstone Kitchen has been active during the pandemic by helping out people with hampers, but Tuesday will mark their first day back cooking up a storm.
"We haven't had a meal together since March, when the restrictions came in," the charity's coordinator Susan Adams said.
"Everyone is really happy to be together and working together."
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The Cornerstone Kitchen is a non-profit service run by Cornerstone Church, and usually offers a free meal every week to residents in need on Tuesday evenings.
In the past, it's been a community meal, but COVID-19 has burnt that concept to the ground, for now.
Instead, volunteers will use the church bus to hand-deliver the meals to households around the city.
They're expecting to get dinners out to about 100 people tomorrow evening.
"Some people are regular patrons to the kitchen, and some are people who have reached out and asked if we could provide a meal to them," Ms Adams said.
"If there's a need there, and we have the ability to alleviate pressure, even for one evening meal, then that's where we'd like to help with resources."
It won't be the kitchen of times gone by though - 'too many cooks in the kitchen' has taken on a new meaning for volunteers, who have to limit numbers at any time to abide by social distancing measures.
It also means they won't get to see their regulars, either.
"Even though not everyone can see those who the meals will be delivered to, there's a real sense people are excited and looking forward to that connection again," Ms Adams said.
"It's been difficult for us ... the meal on a Tuesday is as much about being connected to the community and having a space to come together as it has been for people who need additional support."
Ms Adams said the pandemic has brought with it new problems for locals with changing circumstances, but said she had also noticed the crisis seemed to have made the community more aware of "paying it forward" and helping each other out where possible.
She said Cornerstone Kitchen is working with other organisations to take on referrals, and offered residents to get in touch via the Facebook page if they need a helping hand.
Police and crime reporter at the Newcastle Herald. Email: afalkenmire@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Police and crime reporter at the Newcastle Herald. Email: afalkenmire@austcommunitymedia.com.au
