MEETING friends for lunch is an event most people look forward to.
If it is followed by a dance or singsong, you have the recipe for a very pleasant afternoon.
However, for many people living alone, dining alone is sadly an all-too-common experience.
That is why the volunteers at the Community Kitchen, part of the Link Visiting Scheme, have been nominated as the Community Project of the Year.
Once a month, these special people of all ages and from different jobs, provide a two-course lunch for older people most of whom live alone. Many are collected and brought to the lunch at the Floreat Montague Park school by the same volunteers who also organise entertainment which ranges from dancing to a popular ukulele band.
Liz McDaniel from Link Visiting Scheme explained why she had nominated the group: “We have around 45 Community Kitchen volunteers who very generously give of their time one Sunday every month.
“Sundays can be a day when people living alone often feel more lonely because it is such a quiet day. The volunteers not only provide a lovely hot meal but will sit at the tables with the diners. The afternoon usually lasts around three hours.”
The Link Visiting Scheme was founded 25 years ago to help reduce loneliness amongst older people and to bring generations together in friendship and shared experiences. It offers one-to-one befriending, Friendship Groups, activities, events and long-term projects such as Community Kitchen and Link to Nature.
The charity even provides fun and support on Christmas Day.
“We have seen the positive impact of friendship where we provide quality time, a listening ear and focused attention on individuals who so often feel invisible and forgotten,” added Liz.
“The Community Kitchen volunteers are a wonderful example of how giving just a little of your time can make a world of difference to others.”
