Help accessing meals

If you're finding it hard to shop, cook or prepare your own meals, you might be eligible for some help to access healthy meals at home.

Boroondara Cooks meal delivery program

Would you or someone you know benefit from a regular, home-cooked meal?

Boroondara Cooks is a meal sharing and community strengthening program. It connects people who like to cook with an older resident in our community.

The program is free to join. It supports older Boroondara residents who:

• are over 60  years old
• may be socially isolated
• would benefit from receiving a regular, nutritious home-cooked meal.

Older residents (diners) are matched with volunteer cooks who prepare an extra meal portion and deliver it to a diner. This could be once a week, once every two weeks or once a month.      

Volunteer cooks have completed a food safety and hygiene course and a National Police Check.

How to join the program

There are 2 ways a diner can join the program.

• They can contact the Program Coordinator on (03) 9278 4777 or email [email protected].
• A family member, friend or neighbour living in Boroondara can refer them to the program. 

To refer a diner, make sure you talk to them about the program first and get their permission. Then use our online referral form.  

Refer a diner to Boroondara Cooks

If you want to refer someone to the program, consider printing the Boroondara Cooks flyer below. You can give it to the potential diner so they can learn more about the program.

What happens next

After we receive an application or referral, the Program Coordinator will organise a time to visit the diner at home.

During the visit they will:

• talk about the program
• find out more about the diner, including any dietary requirements or food preferences
• ask the diner to complete a consent form to take part in the program.

We will then match the diner with a local volunteer cook based on location, similar interests and food preferences.

Benefits for older residents

For older residents, receiving a nutritious home-cooked meal and having a conversation with a volunteer can: 

• create connection
• ease feelings of isolation
• have a positive impact on wellbeing.

Become a local volunteer cook

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer cook, please visit our Volunteer for Boroondara Cooks page.