Introducing Feel Good Feeds in Australia
Our Chef Relief Team has now been cooking and distributing meals in Australia for three weeks in the aftermath of deadly and destructive bushfires throughout the region. As we travel throughout the area, we have been speaking with community members and leaders from each small town to understand their needs.
From these conversations, we are understanding that the best way to provide support is not just to be cooking and distributing hot meals, but also in some places to partner with local cafés and restaurants. In this beautiful area of Australia, the major source of income comes from a brief summer rush of tourism around New Years, which was significantly shortened this season due to the bushfires.
As a result, many businesses are facing a very challenging season, not only due to their own families being affected but also the major loss of vital tourism income. In order to help these businesses stay afloat, we have introduced a voucher system, called Feel Good Feeds, in the 800-person town of Mallacoota to provide families with the meals they need while also helping the town’s local businesses stay open during this difficult period.
Each adult family member will receive a punch card to present at a number of participating restaurants in each community. They can present that card, which is good for seven punches, for a meal worth $20. World Central Kitchen will then reimburse the restaurants for every meal served, which helps the small business owners stay afloat.
The situation in Australia has been dire for many families, but we are always working to respond to each disaster in a way that both reflects each community’s values and supports their efforts to rebuild. These small Australian towns, reeling from the effects of the bushfires, are full of good neighbors who want to help each other get back to normal life as quickly as possible. We hope that Feel Good Feeds, though it’s a small effort in a challenging moment for many families, helps the residents of Mallacoota get the nourishing meals they need and the restaurants the necessary financial support to weather this storm.
