The Neighbourhood Centre already hosts numerous other food-related programs including free breakfasts and coffee meet-ups but community worker Jenna Lee said she identified a gap in the service on Thursday nights.

“We have a community breakfast on Thursday mornings but I got the idea from talking to people who were skipping meals,” she said.

Together For Tea is not designed to feed at-risk individuals in particular, rather it invites the entire community to socialise over a meal. It only asks for a gold-coin donation from those wealthy enough to give.

“Being socially isolated can be as stressful on the body as a packet of cigarettes,” she said.

“Socialising relieves mental health… it’s empowering and it’s good for self-esteem.”

Ms Lee said she had lofty aspirations for the program – ideally it could become a space for teaching and learning in a casual, conversational frame.

“I’d like to see stereotypes disappear – I’d like people to come and meet the faces behind the stories,” she said.

“When you think about it food is a way of showing love, of closeness and togetherness. It brings down barriers and it’s attached to all our programs [at the centre].”

Ms Lee said it would also be a good opportunity for the community be introduced to the Neighbourhood Centre itself. 

“It’s a soft-entry point to the centre,” she said.

“It allows us to meet the real, physical needs of the community and allow them to get to know what we can do for them.”

Together For Tea will run for 12 weeks thanks to a donation by the Club Grants Program by Club Maitland City. It will run for an hour from 5pm.

Ms Lee invited anyone in the community, regardless of social standing, to participate as guests or volunteer at the centre. 

The centre can be reached at 4932 0950 or through Facebook.