Feast and friendship project a hit, with Bunbury community centre to keep hosting free dinners for all

A new initiative bringing free dinner with a social touch to community members has been launch by Bunbury community centre Milligan. The Dinner @ Milligan project was created after the group noticed a rise in requests for Foodbank referrals amid the cost-of-living crisis, leaving more families in need. The new program was launched on Thursday, and will be a mainstay for the group on the last Thursday of each month. Milligan people and place leader Crystal Mather said the event provided free food and social connection — two things the group identified the community was in need of. “People were struggling with the rise in the cost of living and needed support,” she said. “This event aimed to respond to that community need. “(It comes) after three pilot projects that ran over the last three months with much success. We knew this was needed in our community, not just for food but for social connection. “It has been made possible with an integral ongoing partnership with Containers For Change, a successful Aqwest grant, and of course, Don Punch MLA hosting our very first dinner was very special.” Ms Mather said the response had been positive. “One of our favourite highlights of Milligan has been shaking things up and showing just how exciting a community centre can be,” she said. “We hope to keep doing that and creating opportunities for our community to feel more connected.”