Italian community granted almost $10,000 for food van service to homeless and those struggling

Stefano Lufi and his band of volunteers have been running out of food every time they deliver meals to those in need. But now, that’s about to change.

Hobart City Mission volunteers Deb Cooper and Clare Fuller with Italian Day Centre manager Stefano Lufi. The Italian Australian Seniors Welfare Association has won a grant to expand its food delivery service to people in need. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Stefano Lufi and his band of volunteers run out of food every time they deliver meals to those in need.

For more than eight months, the Italian Australian Seniors Welfare Association has bundled itself into a van, with ready-made meals delivered to homeless people or those struggling in the Huonville and Sorell areas.

Mr Lufi said in those eight months, things had gotten worse for people in rural areas.

“There is an ever-increasing demand on our services. There’s no question, we run out of food each time we deliver. The hardest thing for us is to keep on maintaining it.”

Thankfully, over the weekend, the association was awarded a $9900 state government grant to expand its community van food relief project, which it runs in partnerships with Hobart City Mission, the Lions Club of Kingborough and Hazell Brothers.

The grant means the association will be able to deliver 1140 ready-to-eat meals and 420 hampers to those who need them most – including Italian food like pasta.

Mr Lufi, the manager of the Italian Day Centre, said philanthropy was a key feature of the Italian community.

“We always look after people in need, irrespective of their culture,” he said.

“We prepare all our meals fresh on the day. We start early in the morning and they’re prepared and then get delivered to our food van. Our van comes equipped with microwaves and it’s got ovens and fridges in there, so we cover all bases.”

Mr Lufi said the meals provided were often the only proper meal the person would get all week.

“The demand is enormous. They enjoy fresh-made food, which is probably very rare. Plus it’s Italian flavour, which a lot of people do enjoy”.

Nic Street, minister for community services and development, said 35 food relief organisations had now received funding, following a $300,000 program announced earlier this year.

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