THE Portland Community Meal Share is back up and running for 2024, and are looking for more help in providing weekly free meals.

The dedicated group of volunteers at the meal share, which launched in 2019, dish out around 50 home-made meals from 5.30pm each Monday, at the Salvation Army hall on Henty Street.

Volunteer Sue Anson said the meals are there for anyone who wants one.

“It’s just anyone who anyone who feels they want some community connection,” she said.

“You don't have to be down and out you can just want to be able to sit with other people and have a meal.

“We have people who live alone, there’s a group of widow’s who come here each week and eat together, and of course people who really need a meal.

“It’s not just about getting food, the social part is really important.”

It is a social gathering for the volunteers as well, Ms Anson said, she and the group who do the cooking all enjoy their regular catch-ups as they put together nutritious meals.

On the menu last week was roast chicken with gravy and plenty of vegetables, and seemed to be going down very well with those who had shown up for a meal, with chicken schnitzel and roast lamb in the weeks to come.

They make trips to Warrnambool’s Western District Food Share to pick up produce to bring back for meals, and from there volunteer Anne Burns said there is plenty of different ways that people can help.

“We might come back with 10kg of carrots, that need to be peeled and chopped up to put in the freezer,” she said.

“They can do it at home, I’ll drop things to their house and they can do it at their leisure.”

Cooking is not the only skill in demand either.

“You don’t need to be a good cook to wait on the tables, to dish up the meals or help cleaning up,” Ms Burns said.

“There’s something for everyone, we all have our specialities.”

Anyone interested in volunteering at the Portland Community Meal Share should get in touch with the Salvation Army Portland Corps.