By Theresia Titus
Doorstep Dinners II – the second phase of St Pat’s Community Support Centre’s project collaboration – has commenced earlier this month and expanded to include participants from the Perth metropolitan area.
Doorstep Dinners II aims to deliver 200 meals per day over the next three months to vulnerable and isolated people experiencing food insecurity in Perth and Fremantle area with additional support from Lotterywest, the Uniting WA, the Minderoo Foundation, the McCusker Foundation, the Fremantle Chamber of Commerce, and the City of Perth.
Beginning in April 2020, when COVID-19 restrictions were at their peak in WA, Doorstep Dinners delivered more than 15,000 freshly cooked meals to participants in and around Fremantle over 90 days.
During Doorstep Dinners II, participants will also receive dedicated triage, assessment, and support services, in addition to a hearty meal from a local restaurant.
St Pat’s Chief Executive Michael Piu said Doorstep Dinners II aimed to assist participants in building resilience and independence as Western Australia strived to recover from COVID-19.
“We are so pleased to deliver the second phase of this unique and important a community project to people and families in Fremantle, and expanding into Perth,” Mr Piu expressed.
“We are delighted to also work in collaboration with the Fremantle Chamber of Commerce and welcome on board City of Perth to work directly with the restaurants providing the meals.”
The National Hotel, Benny’s, La Sosta, and Ronnie Nights in Fremantle – as well as Degani Kings Square and Innovations Catering in Perth – are local restaurants and food suppliers who work with St Pat’s and its collaborators for Doorstep Dinners II.
“Doorstep Dinners are important because it looks to the future, both in the immediate and long-terms,” Mr Piu added.
“[The project] looks to meet the needs which have arisen from COVID-19 pandemic and its economic and social impacts.
“It also ensures that people not only provided with meals but connected with the services that they need to address the issues leading to food insecurity through triage services delivered to their doorsteps,” he continued.
Speaking to The Record, Mr Piu explained that implementation of Doorstep Dinners Project in the early days of the COVID-19 crisis was a way to mitigate the effect caused by shortages and restrictions on the wellbeing and safety of vulnerable people.
“When people could not come to us for help and support when they began self-isolating, we needed to think laterally, adapt the way we delivered our services, and go to them.
“My hope for the second phase is that we can help people into a better position than they were before the pandemic started, which is a difficult time in their lives, and show them that there is a community here which wants to embrace and care for them.”
Mr Piu also stated that the feedback from the first phase of the project has been incredible.
“Many people reported that just knowing someone was coming every day with a meal had reduced their anxiety and helped to lift their spirits,” he said.
“One of the restaurant owners said: ‘It has been amazing to see people who receive our meals come to our restaurant and say thank you for the food provided [after COVID-19 restrictions were eased]. Some of them have said they have never eaten food like that, and it made a huge difference in their life. One lady, in particular, was telling us her story and had tears of joy. Just amazing’.”