“Geeez!….It’s been weeks since I last had a hot meal.”

That’s what one lady said to the Volunteers after being offered a hot meal for the first time from the local Vinnies Van. Until then, the Van had only been able to offer sandwiches, hot drinks and the occasional treat.

This particular Vinnies Van has been operating in Orange (Central West of NSW) for a number of years. The Van goes out two nights a week and distributes much needed food to around 50 people, including children, each night. The service involves around 50 volunteers who carry out various tasks including collecting the food they need, preparing and packaging sandwiches and serving on the Van.

Ashcroft’s Let’s Make Better (LMB), a local charity set up by the owners of two local IGA stores in Orange, is one of the regular donors of food. They mainly provide BBQ chickens and cold meat for the 200 or so sandwiches needed each week.

This year the Ashcroft’s wanted to do more for the people who rely on the Vinnies Van, and especially through winter which gets very cold in Orange. There were a number of logistical issues that needed to be addressed and the cost, around $7-8 per meal, was also a consideration.

Both Vinnies and the Ashcroft's were keen to make hot meals happen so LMB bit the bullet in June and all through winter have provided 20 hot meals each week. They’ll continue to do so until the end of September and then consider the way forward. 20 meals a week is only a fraction of what’s needed and LMB is hopeful the Community will help them be able to increase this number.

Until now, LMB has never invited the public to make cash donations to the Charity, but with the needs of more and more people continuing to grow, LMB has now decided to provide the community with more opportunities to help provide relief for these people who need it.

Donations to LMB are tax deductible.

Our photos show the Orange Vinnies Van in action and local Co-ordinator Keith Dowling with some of the meals LMB provides.

To find out more about Let’s Make Better or donate to the great work they do –

www.letsmakebetter.com.au