LOOKING back on how Food with Friends started and how it is still going, founder Elizabeth Bartlett is now able to sit back and relax.
“I was at The Greens meeting some ten years ago and brought a list asking people to sign up if they were interested to start cooking free lunches for the homeless and lonely in Gloucester,” Elizabeth reminisced.
With the list, she organised the volunteers into teams of five, cooking once a month.
Elizabeth then approached the shops on the main street, and individuals, asking for monthly contributions of $5 for groceries.
She made up posters, distributed flyers, and told her friends to let their friends know.
“The Seventh Day Adventist Church Hall on Barrington Street offered their premises and at our first lunch, 25 people turned up,” Elizabeth recalled.
“What truly gladdens my heart is sometimes seeing people come, with sad and anxious faces, and leaving with smiles after a relaxing lunch because no demands were made on them,” she added.
“Rather, they experienced warmth and friendship.”
Elizabeth eventually handed the reins as coordinator to Maggie Magee, followed by Michael Smith and now Jane Broadbere.
Jane explained, “Food with Friends is a community based event that combines fun social interaction with a delicious course meal prepared by enthusiastic teams of volunteers.”
“As one of our regulars always says, when he finds out what’s on the menu, “Oh yum!””
Over the years, Gloucester Charities has taken over the support of Food with Friends.
“In 2025, thanks to their support and that of some individuals, we served over 600 free meals to the Gloucester community,” Jane said.
“We thank Gloucester Charities for their food vouchers, Batter and Dough Patisserie for their generous donation of sourdough bread, McRae’s Fashion Centre for their help in making things run smoothly, and most of all, to the Seventh Day Adventist Church for offering rent-free premises.
“They have recently renovated the kitchen so that our team members have more than enough room to work!”
Food with Friends re-opens on Wednesday, 4 February, from 11.30am.
“Let’s do lunch,” Jane exclaimed.
By Kim TEOH
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