Lunch and wine for charitable cause

STAFF at one of the region’s wineries is aiming to give back to the community as part of a new collaboration with a non-profit food supplier.

Forming the launch of their Savour and Support initiative, staff at Austin’s Wines have been hosting volunteers at charity Feed Me to provide lunch out of their Sutherlands Creek cellar door.

With all proceeds made through the charity’s popup food van, Austin’s Wines co-owner Belinda Austin said it’s a great way to support the community.

“We’ve got their food van, Gloria’s with us for three weekends,” she said.

“If people come and enjoy lunch, everything goes back into Feed Me who are feeding 7000 families a week in the Geelong, Surf Coast, Golden Plains, Bellarine regions.

“They operate solely on volunteers and donated food from supermarkets. This is a way they can use some of that food and make beautiful lunches for the community while raising awareness on what they do.”

The initiative started early this month, and is running throughout three weekends.

With much of the upcoming holiday period booked out, the remaining days for the collaboration are on Monday, 10 April followed by Friday, 14 to Sunday, 16 April.

Ms Austin said she hopes the collaboration is the first in a long-term partnership.

“My father-in-law Richard who started this business, he’s been supporting Feed Me since they started up and he really encouraged us to do something together,” she said.

“We’re in talks for them to be our official charity partner, so we’re hoping to do a range of different initiatives and I’m hoping we can have them out more regularly.

“Whether that’s using the food van or with a dinner to raise money for them, I’m not sure but we’re definitely happy to have an ongoing relationship.”

Main meals will cost between $10 and $15 while children’s meals begin at $5.

Bookings can be made at the Austin’s website.