Tamara Smith MP, Member for Ballina is pleased to announce $25,000 funding support for the Ballina Hot Meal Centre through the NSW Premier’s Discretionary Fund. The Ballina Hot Meal Centre has been serving hot meals to people who are sleeping rough and other vulnerable people in Ballina Shire for over 27 years.  

The Ballina Hot Meal Centre has only seen an increase in demand for its sit-down, take-away, and meals-on-wheels service for the most vulnerable in the community with 300 meals prepared by a purely volunteer staffed service across the 2 days per week it is open.  

Quotes attributable to Tamara Smith MP;  

" Incredible and selfless volunteers have been running Ballina's only soup kitchen for nearly 3 decades without government assistance. As well as the amazing local businesses that donate food and money, our community stepped up where previous governments did not deliver." 

" I am very grateful to the Premier Chris Minns for his humane response to the funding needs of the service, and for recognising the incredible work that this community run organisation is doing to improve vulnerable people's lives. This funding not only keeps the centre open for another year but it lifts the morale of the volunteers who keep it going."  

“I would like to thank the volunteers and every person and organisation that have donated over many years and who have not given up on this service - the only organisation that remained open and provided meals to people in our community throughout COVID 19. The volunteers, most of whom were vulnerable and at risk of infection themselves, did not step down but instead modified their service delivery to provide takeaway meals,” said Ms Smith.   

"Today's announcement recognises the unbelievable effort of volunteers in our community who have fundraised every year, volunteered to collect and cook and serve meals every year, and kept going. You are absolute heroes in my eyes and in the eyes of our community."  

Quotes attributable to Dawn Sword, General Manager of Ballina Hot Meals.  

“The Ballina Hot Meal Centre is operated and run entirely by volunteers, some who have been here since its inception, and all of whom help provide a warm and welcoming environment where they feed those in need not just with food but with kindness and hope.”  

“We are so grateful for the continual support and advocacy from our local Member Tamara Smith MP who has helped us to secure this much needed funding from the Premier, and thank his representative Minister Hoenig for joining us today”   “Without this funding it would have been a struggle to keep our doors and kitchen open to continue servicing the community at a time when it is most needed.”