‘Manna from heaven’: Cooking with heart and soul during Covid
Published in The Australian Jewish News
May 19, 2020
On a chilly autumn Sunday morning in the Melbourne suburb of Balaclava, most activity is contained to the footpaths that lead to the nearest almond milk latte. But tucked away at the end of a side street just a little further south, people gather, giving up their weekend sleep-in for another purpose entirely.
They cook together. They pack goods together. And they fill the stomachs and hearts of those doing it tough.
Doors open to a flurry of action. Volunteers are abuzz – some chat and bump elbows as they put on hair nets and aprons in the hallway, others share stories of time spent in South America while chop-chop-chopping from diminishing piles of tumbling red capsicums. A couple peek into the oven, keeping a watchful eye on the paprika sprinkled potatoes and sweet potatoes which glisten towards caramelisation on trays stacked high. A green sea of zucchinis hiss on the hot plate as hip hop beats fill the room.
And over it all, a jubilant voice exclaims, “Welcome to C Care!”