By Jiayu Peng – Journalism intern from the University of Melbourne
Every Tuesday, a volunteer-run community kitchen in St. Albans provides up to 150 hot meals for the homeless and those facing financial hardship.
For the past five years, Jane Pallot has been running the weekly community kitchen through the Charity Paradise for Kids. She has been involved with the organisation for over a decade.
“Paradise for Kids was formed 17 years ago … we started a mission in Africa, Sierra Leone … to look after children and provide them with a free education … free medical for them to survive,” she says.
The St Albans service began during the COVID lockdowns. “During COVID I came across a food trailer… and we started the St Albans kitchen,” Jane says.
At the time, Melbourne was under strict restrictions, including travel limits and curfews, but the service continued to operate. “COVID was very, very strong in Melbourne… I had retired, so I did have time that I could take this on and cook for this homeless community.”
The weekly service has grown significantly since it began. “When we started, I had about 20 to 30 people, now I cook 25 to 30 kilograms. We offer up to 150 servings of food,” she says.
The meals are all freshly prepared. “I wanted to offer this homeless community a meal that I would serve my own family, not compromising on quality ever.”
The food trailer itself has been funded by Mr. Louis Toumbas, the international director for Paradise for Kids, but the weekly operation relies largely on donations and personal contributions.
Jane says the kitchen does not receive local council funding. “We are classed as emergency food because we operate in a car park, so we don’t qualify for grants,” she says.
So the kitchen is assisted by the P4K Help the Homeless (AUS-550) initiative which is supported via HADA (Health and Development Aid Abroad), allowing for tax-deductible donations.
The kitchen is run entirely by volunteers and operates every Tuesday night. “It’s always a challenge because it’s volunteer based and I do the cooking,” Jane says. Despite this, the team has shown consistency. “We haven’t missed any Tuesday. We’re always there.”
Beyond food, the kitchen has become a space for connection. “Tuesday night is a happy night for them, they can come and meet their friends and just forget their troubles,” she says. Over time, trust has developed between the volunteers and those who attend. “We have become part of their community.”
Small actions can often bring about the biggest changes. Jane recalls one man requesting a meal he had not had in years. “He said, ‘I haven’t had my mum’s beef stew’, so I made it and he said, ‘it was better than my mum’s beef stew.’”
For Jane, the work is simple but meaningful. “Kindness is what people need. It’s not a very kind world to them,” she says. Over time, the weekly meals have become more than just food. “This community has become an extension of our family.”
