By Callum Ludwig
Healesville-based charity and welfare organisation HICCI is encouraging people to attend their weekly community meal, Dinner at Darron’s.
After recent closure due to Covid-19, the numbers attending the dinner have dwindled, causing concern for HICCI Executive Officer Alison Gommers.
Gommers said the lack of patrons is affecting the important social aspect the meal normally creates.
“Volunteer teams are doing all this work and there are not many people coming so it’s quite disheartening for them,” she said.
“For many of the patrons, it’s more about the social side rather than the meal. It’s just about people having some company.”
On top of Dinner at Darron’s, HICCI provides a number of services for those in need such as emergency relief in times of hardship or crisis, transport assistance for essentials such as grocery shopping or medical appointments, and interest-free loans.
Gommers said the meal often provides an opportunity to check in with patrons and encourages them to reach out if they need to.
“There’s always a staff member there. So if someone’s needing a bit of help, we can talk to them,” she said.
HICCI has five volunteer teams that prepare and serve the meals.
Next week, a new local volunteer team will be donning the HICCI apron, providing friendly familiar faces for those in need.
Dinner at Darron’s is held every Tuesday evening at 5.30pm, at the Darron Honey Centre located behind the Healesville Uniting Church at 286 Maroondah Hwy.
