Brisbane mobile kitchen cooking with Dignity First Fund support
A new mobile kitchen and food van will operate across the Brisbane and Logan areas from February 2019 off the back of $177,154 in funding through the Palaszczuk Government’s $2.5 million Dignity First Fund.
The fund supports fresh ideas from non-government providers that aim to prevent and reduce homelessness and assist people experiencing homelessness to live with dignity.
Minister for Housing and Public Works Mick de Brenni said the food van was one of 14 projects funded in the Brisbane region at a total of more than $738,000.
“Dignity First provides for people who really need it, when they really need it,” he said.
“This investment will enable Anglicare Southern Queensland to purchase and fit out a kitchen/food van where young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness can gain an understanding of nutrition and learn the skills to prepare and cook healthy meals.”
Anglicare Southern Queensland executive director Karen Crouch said the project will help young men and women develop important life skills and foster a sense of wellbeing from giving back to the community.
“The food they cook will be distributed to a range of community-based organisations, street vans and age respite centres,” Crouch said.
“They will get work experience preparing food at events and corporate functions and, through our partnership with TAFE they’ll have access to training, education and employment opportunities.”
Forty Queensland organisations have secured 42 grants under the third round of the Dignity First Fund, with applications in 2018 totalling 165, up from the 111 received in 2017.
De Brenni said some of the projects would be operational by the end of the year, while others requiring significant construction would be completed mid-2019.
“We are providing funding for a range of important projects – mobile outreach services, food trucks, community kitchen upgrades, drop-in centres and backpacks containing essential supplies, to name a few,” he said.
“Whatever situation you’re in, you have the right to live with dignity, and the innovative ideas we’ve seen emerge through this funding round will make a huge difference to the lives of Queenslanders in need.”
Sheridan Randall, 18th December 2018
