Good in the Hood: the meal is the excuse

Good in the Hood grew up alongside this centre, and the two organisations have been working together since the beginning. Their cooking nights run in our kitchen. Our food relief runs on their volunteers.

The division of labour is simple. Good in the Hood brings the volunteers, the home cooks and the local restaurants. We bring the hub at Rozelle, the kitchen, the referral network and the back office. Neither half works without the other.

They are a separate charity, not part of together². People sometimes ask, and it is worth being clear: two organisations, one kitchen, one purpose.

Every week more than a hundred people prepare rescued food, cook, pack and deliver. Most of them live within a few streets of the person they are delivering to.

That is where the loneliness work happens. Volunteers knock, and they stay a minute. Good in the Hood exists as much to interrupt loneliness as to feed anyone, and the people who deliver will tell you they got as much out of it as they gave.

There are three ways in, and none of them needs experience.

• Cook. Social Cooking Crew is an evening in our kitchen where locals cook around a hundred meals for neighbours who need them. Somebody will show you.
• Deliver or pack. One run a week is useful. Most of the volunteers are neighbours of the people they deliver to.
• Receive. If you or someone you know is finding it hard to cook, organisations can refer, and you can refer yourself. We need a few details so the driver can find you.

Whether you want to cook, carry or simply eat with someone once a week, there is a door for you. Call 02 9556 9500 or get in touch.