After more than a year of planning, the Paynesville Neighbourhood Centre at the Uniting Church has installed a new kitchen stove, significantly increasing its capacity to prepare meals for the community.
The upgraded facility can now produce up
to 60 cooked meals each Thursday to complement the centre’s Food Bank offerings, doubling the volume previously cooked by the volunteer team.
The project was made possible through support from the Freemasons in Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance, with 80 per cent of funding underwritten by the Freemasons Foundation Victoria.
The grant covered a larger electric stove, upgraded electrical connections, cabinetry, and a vacuum packer with packing materials. Volunteers say they are delighted with the new stove, which accommodates twice the previous capacity.
Rodin Lavin, immediate past chairman of the Freemasons Foundation, and Jim Jolly, secretary of Bairnsdale Daylight Lodge, recently visited the centre to meet the volunteers and view the upgraded kitchen. Jim enjoyed a light lunch and particularly appreciated the home-made plum and crumble pudding.
