Since 2004, The Dish have been feeding the vulnerable of Hornsby with a hot meal together with friendship and compassion.
St John’s Uniting Church Wahroonga started The Dish as a soup van out of a desire to offer food and conversation with homeless people in the local area. Originally food was served from the van in Hornsby Park two nights a week.
As Christians we love others as a reflection of Jesus's great love for us. In addition to food, we provide an accepting and inclusive community, helping each person know they are valued.
Through Australia's ups and downs over the years, The Dish team have been consistent in our service.
We've seen and adapted to a lot of change and are continuing to remain agile to meet the challenges that aid organisations like ours are facing.
Now after 20 years, demand is greater than ever !
We are seeing more aged pensioners, people with mental health challenges and single parents. For a lot of people, it’s the only decent meal they will get that day.
The Dish serves up to 40 meals a three nights a week, year round.
The atmosphere is a dinner among friends in a safe, private setting. People don't come here just for the food, they come because they know they can have a chat.
We also rescue left-over food from supermarkets and stock a community pantry so that our community has some groceries & fresh food to take home as well.
The friends whom we serve suffer financial strife, unemployment, physical illness, mental illness, addiction or loneliness. Motivated by Jesus' love for us, volunteers from The Dish look to extend love and hope to others.