Community lunch on Christmas day

SURF Coast community leaders have come together to create One Big Table, an event on Christmas Day for anyone on the Surf Coast.

A press release for the event acknowledged that the lunch would be ‘for the people, by the people’.

The aim of the lunch is to bring people together to celebrate the community’s diversity by creating a welcoming and safe space. Event organisers want the community to share a moment and eat together, show understanding and respect differences. They declare that everyone is welcome to the table.

St Therese offered the use of their gathering space to the event organisers which will provide a COVID and summer day friendly area for the lunch, one that provides plenty of natural air flow.

One of the event organisers, Laura Connor from Community House, said a number of community groups were considering a similar idea and luckily it became a collaborative effort.

“The Curry family were really important in putting this together. They approached me to ask if there was anywhere they could hold a Christmas lunch in Geelong. Over the years I have been approached by people to do it, but it’s always been too big a thing in some ways. When they said that, I suggested a local event,” she said.

“I knew how many families would appreciate a community led event on the Surf Coast and they loved that idea.

“I also knew Michael from Food Aid was pondering something similar. Everyone was thinking the same thing.

“Lions were thinking about it too so I thought all that energy going into the one event would be pretty powerful.”

The event will be held on December 25 at 11am. Head to www.OneBigTable.com.au if you would like to volunteer or grab a seat at the table.