The idea began when Kurri Rotary member Amanda Harris was chatting to an elderly neighbour just up the road.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 87-year-old, while reluctant to talk about it, admitted that she was living on cat food because she was too frightened to go out shopping during COVID-19.
"She was totally confused by all the conflicting information about what you could and couldn't do, social distancing and so on, and she certainly couldn't afford a fine for doing the wrong thing," Amanda said.
"So she was living on cat food. What made it even sadder was that she hadn't had cats for years, so these cans had been sitting in the back of her cupboard all that time.
"It made me realise how tough it must be for the vulnerable in our society right now. And this was just up the road from me."
When Amanda mentioned it to fellow Kurri Rotarian Luke Hancock, they decided to do something about it.
They took the story to their fellow Kurri Rotary members - there are 22 of them all up - and they decided it was time for action.
"The average age of our group would be 60-plus, so they could identify with the vulnerable," Luke said, taking up the story.
So Kurri Kurri Rotary swung into action making free, hearty meals for the vulnerable.
So far they've made about 1400, and are still going strong.
"We're making hearty winter food ... stews and casseroles, lots of soups, sausages, spaghetti bolognese, that sort of thing."
The younger members of the group will go out and buy the produce - "sometimes out of their own pocket, but usually out of Rotary money we've saved up" - and deliver to the older members who will share in the cooking.
Then the younger ones pick it up and deliver it to the Kurri Community Centre, who have drivers available to deliver it.
"The Community Centres can link together and that means they have a far greater reach than we do," Luke said. "So far we're getting meals to Kurri, who can then send them on to Cessnock, Maitland, Bishops Bridge, Weston and Telarah, and we're currently negotiating to get them to Rutherford too.
"The thing is, it has been positive for our group as well.
"We've enjoyed being able to help and it has given our more isolated members a purpose during this difficult lockdown period. It means they have regular contact with our other members as we deliver and pick up food."
There is one sticking point though. The clubs funds, accumulated over years of barbecues, raffles and fund-raising activities, are slowly starting to run dry.
"We're okay for now, but we could use a cash boost.
"We'd like to keep doing this, but it's not sustainable in the long term. We can't continue indefinitely."
The club says if anyone can help with funding, or if anyone is feeling vulnerable and in need of their help, to phone the club on 0476 925 402.