Glen Eira Council has launched a new initiative called Cooking Up Connections.

This is a meal-sharing and community-strengthening program that connects people who like to cook and connect, with an older resident in our community. Volunteers share an extra portion of their home-cooked meal with an older resident on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis.

Volunteer cooks prepare and deliver a regular meal to a local diner. Volunteers can choose who they would like to cook for and we try to match cooks and diners who share something in common, whether that's interests, food preferences or location.

The program involves:

• cooking your usual meal

• plating up an extra portion

• delivering the extra portion to an older resident and taking the time to say hello

To further enhance the social connection, you may even like to take your meal along as well and share it with the diner at their home.

The program relies on volunteer cooks committing to deliver meals to the same diner on a regular basis, however, cooks can certainly take breaks - we just ask that you let your diner know in advance.

Before commencing with the program, volunteer cooks must complete:

• Food safety and hygiene learning program and quiz (please allow 30 to 60 minutes to complete)
• Police Check
• Working with Children Check (this requirement is mandatory for all Glen Eira Council registered volunteers)
• Sign a Volunteer Agreement
• Provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination (doses 1 and 2).

Once accepted as a volunteer, the Program Coordinator will contact you, guiding you through the registration process and discussing suitable diners located in your area.