Hamstrung by COVID and temporarily brought to a halt, Carevan and its volunteers have started hitting the streets again to provide meals for those in need.
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Carevan project manager Lynne Graham said the program had to be remodelled to combat the pandemic.
"Once COVID hit, we changed our way of operating," Mrs Graham said.
"We cook about 450 meals, three days a week and they're all labelled, dated and frozen.
"This is our COVID cooking program and it's running quite nicely.
"We go to four church halls and two community hubs on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and rotate through these six venues in a fortnight.
"We have good quality, very tasty wholesome, balanced meals with meat and veggies and we do some vegetarian meals too.
"People who have come along have really enjoyed it and have a level of appreciation for what is provided for them."
A retired school teacher, Mrs Graham said about 70 trained volunteers helped to provide the service.
She said that the "sit-down" meals were an ideal opportunity for those who lacked a social connection.
"The main idea of going out at night is to let people have a sit-down meal and to help with a lack of connection because for some people having that meal is their only social connection all day," Mrs Graham said.
"Last week on the first night we had nobody, then three on the next night and 22 on the last night.
"Our volunteers have the passion for the work of caring for people and we just do what we can and get out there.
"You have to make a difference in your own little part of the world.
"It's the camaraderie of getting together and helping."Mrs Graham said some local high schools had come on board to lend a helping hand.
"We have four main Wagga high schools involved; we provide the ingredients and they'll cook the meals.
"It's a pilot program that's only been going for about a month and gives the kids a purpose and experience in cooking.
"We also send lunch packs out to schools for someone who has forgotten to bring their lunch and the teachers have commented how beneficial it has been.
"We're helping them so that's terrific."
One of Carevan's volunteers is Wagga mayor Greg Conkey's wife Jenny who described Carevan as a "Wagga success story".
"It's a little bit sad that Wagga needs something like this," Mrs Conkey said.
"The volunteers have genuine caring and compassion and it's a pleasure to come in.
"The perception is that it's all homeless people who come for the meals, but the reality is that there's many people that might only be a few pay cheques away from being food desperate.
"They have interesting stories and are slowly but surely developing a sense of community and starting friendship groups.
"The good thing about Carevan is that it's local and has a direct and immediate impact on people."
Carevan also distributes blankets, beanies and toiletry packs which local community groups donate.
More details: 0444 554 588 or email carevanwagga@gmail.com