Be a good neighbour by donating to our end-of-year fundraiser
Support Brunswick Neighbourhood House to expand its Community Lunch program
Brunswick Voice
Monday, December 1, 2025
AS we enter the end-of-year season of goodwill, Brunswick Voice is teaming up with the Brunswick Neighbourhood House to call on the legendary generosity of our readers.
Along with Inner North Community Foundation, we’re launching our first end-of-year fundraiser to generate some extra money so that the Neighbourhood House can expand its Community Lunch program in 2026.
The lunches are currently held monthly, but Brunswick Neighbourhood House wants to make it a fortnightly event next year. It needs to raise at least $10,000 to make that a reality and so Brunswick Voice has offered to spread the word to our readers.
Like newspapers have done for decades, Brunswick Voice is looking to support others in the local community with an end-of-year fundraising campaign – raising money for local emergency relief services.
Since 2022 the cost-of-living crisis and the loss of COVID allowances has increased demand for food support.
In 2026 Brunswick Neighbourhood House is seeking community support to increase the frequency of Community Lunches.
With extra funding BNH Community Lunch can produce additional lunches, maintain a head chef and purchase ingredients to supplement donations.
“People are genuinely struggling to cover the basics. A fortnightly lunch will go some way to alleviating that pressure,” said Neighbourhood House chief executive officer Sasha Earle.
“While it’s usual to generate some extra goodwill at Christmas time, we’re seeking to distribute that goodwill throughout the year with support from Brunswick Voice and the Inner North Community Foundation, so that people can access food relief more often.”
Brunswick Neighbourhood House’s Community Lunch is an open invitation to come along and eat for free in a relaxed, sociable atmosphere.
For some, this is an opportunity to connect and socialise with their neighbours. For others it is a much-needed addition to the monthly food budget.
As an open-door offer, the Community Lunch is frequented by regulars and spontaneous guests who see the sign in Warr Park and pop in to eat. On any given day the lunch can feed 30 to 60 people.
Ruby Buensalida, wellbeing assistant at Northern Gardens Aged Care, said the Community Lunch was a nice opportunity for the residents to interact with the community.
“Some of our residents don’t have any family so they get very excited to come to lunch each month,” she said.
Brenda Watson brings her mother, Peggy, aged 100, to the lunches.
“We look forward to seeing each other each month and catching up,” she said.
“The food is lovely and it is somewhere I can bring my mother and see familiar faces.”
The midday meal is prepared by a head chef directing as many as 25 cooking students and volunteers, to serve two vegetarian courses on the second Thursday of the month.
“As a Neighbourhood House our role is to strengthen community connections and Community Lunch is part of that offering,” Earle said.
“Community Lunch always creates a buzz in the House with lots of people in the kitchen cooking, playing tunes, and setting tables. Then old friends and new arrive to spend time together before and after the meal. It has become a focal point for the community with people of all ages attending. We even celebrated a centenary birthday this year.”
The event is supported by a partnership with Open Table and Second Bite who provide rescued food ingredients. Volunteers pick-up the donations and sort the ingredients while the chef plans a nutritious meal and directs cooking students in its preparation.
Excess donations are packaged up for distribution after every meal so that those who want to can take cans, fresh produce and long-life items home with them.
Ben Rodgers, executive officer at Inner North Community Foundation, said despite prosperity for many, Brunswick and the broader Merri-bek community has an increasing need for food and material aid.
Cost of living, housing affordability, and other life pressures mean that local groups see more people presenting for basic needs.
“The Brunswick community comes together for others,” he said.
“Whether people have been here for decades, or are passing through, standing with others is what makes living in Brunswick strong.”
