Wollongong Yacht Club chef Goutham Arya Thota has started 2019 helping Vinnies feed people who might otherwise go without.
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In 2018 his business Take 5 Fusion, which runs Yachties Cafe and the bistro at The Little Prince, collected donations and has enough for 800 soup meals.
On Monday he helped the Vinnies Van by cooking and handed out coffee and beverages at Wollongong Railway Station. He plans to use his donations to give out 50 to 60 meals at that location each month. “It is for anyone who needs one. My goal is to eventually collect enough to give out meals every day”.
Mr Thota wants to enter into partnerships with other businesses and put out collection boxes”. He also wants to encourage other restaurants and cafes to work with charities such as Vinnies. “My vision is to create a platform so no-one in Wollongong ever has to go hungry”.
Vinnies Van program co-ordinator Amanda Cooper said the Vinnies Van goes out four nights a week which is made possible by around 200 volunteers and other support.
On Monday and Wednesday Vinnies Van goes to Warrawong Community Centre and Wollongong Railway Station. On Tuesday it visits Nowra Gateway Caravan Park. And on Friday to Bellambi Neighbourhood Centre.
“We take enough food to feed about 60 o 80 people each night,” she said.
Ms Cooper said Mr Thota generously helped out with his skills as a chef on Monday. And that people like him are a great help.
“We have a roster of volunteers to do the cooking,” she said.
Something she would love is for more restaurants and cafes to cook meals to freeze so she can store them in a freezer room to take out and heat up.
She said many of the volunteers came from the Catholic Education Office.
Businesses interested in supporting the Vinnies Van though donations of funds, food or time can contact Ms Cooper on 0476 532 002 or email vinniesvan@vinnies.org.au.
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Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
