ADRA Community Kitchens Thrive in WA

“The food is just so amazing! You feed us like we are your family.” “I feel safe here… I look forward to coming each week.” “You give us more than food – you give us friendship and love.”

This is just a taste of the feedback that ADRA Cafes have been receiving from their local communities. Functioning from both Mandurah and Belmont in Western Australia, these community kitchens are providing fresh, warm home-cooked meals to over 100 people per week. They also send out food parcels, and provide a safe and welcoming environment for community members of all backgrounds to meet together in fellowship. “The nature of this outreach has helped mobilise church members to do something good for others, other than being either stagnant or spiritually sour,” says Robert Stankovic, the Church Pastor of Mandurah & Belmont SDA Churches. Pastor Stankovic claims that the volunteers working on the ADRA Cafe program have been encouraged “to take the focus off themselves and become more proactive and fulfilled in their lives as Christians.” The ADRA Cafes have united community members across in Belmont and Mandurah, boosting church membership each week and allowing people of all ages to form new friendships with one another. Pastor Stankovic admits to tearing up a bit when he sees how enthusiastically his church members have embraced their new mission of service and sharing the love of Christ. “It’s the highlight of our week!” says one member, “From one week to the next, we look forward to coming and helping.” Local companies including MANNA Inc, Food Bank, Food Rescue, Baker’s Delight, Brumby’s bakery, and nearby farmers have all been generously contributing their products to assist in the mission of ADRA Cafe community kitchens.