Lions Club volunteers pictured with their food caravan. They are, from left, Lynne Denham, Ian Crabb, Graham Wiseman, Brent Montgomerie, and club president Steph Dunsmore. Cooking in the van is Gayle Riddle.
An initiative linking the Lions Club of Cambridge with Cambridge Community House (CCH) launched last week with the free distribution of hot food to families in need.
Orders for the Monday, Wednesday and Friday hot lunches are telephoned through, and then either collected from the Lions Shed in Vogel St, or delivered to the front doors of those requiring that option.
The basic hot lunch on offer comprises sausage and chips, bread and butter, and a drink.
Cambridge Community House general manager Harriet Dixon said the COVID-19 lockdown across levels 3 and 4 meant that with limited family activities, tensions at home can run high.
“The Lions providing a hot lunch that doesn’t need to be cooked at home takes the pressure off families.”
“The Lions providing a hot lunch that doesn’t need to be cooked at home takes the pressure off families.”
Through CCH, the initiative is also connecting the Lions with the homeless.
“We have seen an increase in people and families who have become homeless,” said Harriet. “We have worked hard to get a roof over their head. The lack of people staying in motels means it has been easier … there are rooms available and these businesses need the income.”
She said the future could be harder to manage, as there is no emergency housing available in Cambridge. “Businesses have been hit hard, too. The future need will grow as families struggle financially.”
Steph Dunsmore, the Lions Club of Cambridge president, said the caravan started distributing the hot meals at the end of April.
“At the moment we’re doing three days a week, but we will see how it goes. With the current situation, we are not able to do everything we would normally do in the community. Our helping with these hot meals is a way we can at least do something … these are unique circumstances.”
