Some have become quite emotional thanking us as they don’t get out of the house much, but now, they look forward to Friday’s. Some have become close friends over a cup of tea or coffee and we see the morning tea becoming an important ministry to the Food Hall.

Most customers don’t come on their own, so the number of people coming into the hall can total 60 – 70 during the morning including some toddlers. We have helped a number of families who are struggling and we give them extra items to help them through which they are very grateful.

We packed 48 Christmas Hampers which were sold very quickly. It seems that this year we will have to pack more.

Sadly, we had to accept Stacey Fleming’s resignation from the finance position as she now has a job and she is working on Friday’s, Gina Chalker has now taken over this position.

Our team of volunteers work well with each other and with the customers. Some of the volunteers have been trained in other positions and this is proving well when someone is away. We work well as a team and each member compliments each other in their role.

Our transport system is working well and we help some of our customers to and from the Food Hall. 

It is indeed a pleasure to come to the Food Hall on Friday’s to oversee this service and all the volunteers have proved themselves to be very worthy of their positions with a welcoming heart and smile to all who enter our doors.

I am very grateful to Lisa Hughes who organises the food orders, and costings and sets up the store room each week and without Lisa, we would struggle to function well.

I would also like to thank all the volunteers who do a great job and continue to show God’s love to all. We start the morning with a prayer and some of our regular customers arrive early to be included in our prayer time. We are not allowed to start without them.

Our items for purchasing have varied a lot since we opened, we try to have the basic food and items including cereal and rice etc to toothbrushes, kitchen tongs and fruit cake, which is always a favourite.

We are very grateful to the people who saw the need for a Food Hall in Grenfell and it has passed all expectations in helping many of the residents within the community.

As we now celebrate our first birthday, we pray that we can continue this worthy mission for many years to come.

We are continually grateful to the Anglican Church for the use of their hall and very thankful for all their assistance and co-operation.

I would like to thank William and Leonie Morrow, Jan Parlett, Stephen Griffin, The Men’s Shed, Ross Craven, Rob Newton, the Salvation Army and all of the Churches of Grenfell who have assisted in the Food Hall. Also Ron Huckel and his team of men who come and unload the Thursday delivery.

I would also like to thank the morning tea ladies, Maureen and Eunice, and our other helpers who do a great job and are constantly cooking for our Friday mornings. There are many others behind the scenes and all do a great job, Thank you.

We thank our loving God who instigated this plan as He saw the need well before anyone and we give Him all the praise and glory for the work that is being done the the Food Hall and as 1 John Chapter 4, verse 7 says, (from the Bible) ‘Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.” This is truly God’s work.

Many Thanks, Joan Cations.

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The Grenfell Food Hall is open on Friday’s from 9am – 11am at the Anglican Church Hall in Middle Street, Grenfell. The service is available for members of the community who carry a concession card or pensioner card or to those who are volunteers. There is always a large variety of items available at very reasonable prices, to register call into the Food Hall on Friday and you will be made most welcome.