Joey students use kitchen skills to help out

STUDENTS at St Joseph’s College in Geelong are getting busy in the kitchen to help out some of those most in need in Geelong.

Established in 2021, the Mac & Joe’s program sees students, staff, parents and carers cooking meals to be home-delivered by McKellar Centre nurses and volunteers to palliative care patients, their carers and family members.

The food hand-made by the students in the college’s kitchens includes pre-prepared meals such as pumpkin soup, chilli con carne, and pasta, as well as treats such as chocolate cookies and truffles.

St Joseph’s service learning co-ordinator Leah Irving said the group’s motto was “connecting community, nourishing neighbours”.

“It was born out of a need in the local community for palliative care patients and their carers and family members to be nourished of body and soul during their time of need,” Ms Irving said.

“When caring for a loved one at the end of their lives, many carers neglect themselves.

“By offering a meal or a box of biscuits, not only does it ensure they have something to eat, it means the nurses and volunteers arriving at homes are not empty-handed.

“Guided by Edmund Rice’s dedication to acting when he saw a need, several senior students and myself approached the McKellar Centre.”

Ms Irving said the students regularly received messages thanking them for giving their time to such a wonderful initiative and praising the delicious meals.

One message from a community palliative care nurse said: “I visited two families who lost their loved one and were in tears after we handed them your specially prepared meals. They felt so loved and care for. Keep up the kind work”.

Another woman caring for her husband with MND wrote: “Whoever makes the delicious biscuits the ‘choc blob’ on them deserves a gold medal. Such a simple concept but one that reaches very widely! I just wanted the ‘kids’ to know what a big deal it was.”

Another family wrote: “These pre-prepared meals for us has meant time to spend doing things more fulfilling than tied up in the kitchen. So grateful to you all. xxx”

The Barwon Health Foundation is also supporting the program and has donated a freezer.