Malinda Schultz helps community in need

A new organisation that offers free feeds with chats and laughs aplenty is bringing the people of Donald together to help ease hardship.

The Good Feed is a shining beacon of light for the Donald community.

Initiated six months ago by volunteer Malinda Schultz, the not-for-profit offers a free, three-course meal to locals and visitors in genuine need, lonely, aged, disabled, isolated or suffering economic hardship.

Run solely by volunteers with all costs covered by donations, The Good Feed started six months ago just one day a week welcoming 17 people and is now offered twice a week feeding 50 to 60 people.

Malinda Schultz started The Good Feed to help disadvantaged people in the community. It offers a three course meal for free. Picture: Zoe Phillips

It outgrew its initial location at the VRI Hall and has moved to the Memorial Hall, which the Buloke Shire Council has provided for free.

Malinda, who previously worked for the Salvation Army in Hamilton, moved to Donald with her farm manager husband Darian and their young family 12 months ago.

“Working through the Salvos I saw a lot of people struggling with life and to make ends meet,” Malinda said.

“The Good Feed was given to me by God. He said there are a lot of people in Donald who are struggling.”

Malinda had the soup kitchen up and running within two weeks. It is now a registered charity and has been embraced by the community with local groups, businesses and schools pitching in to help.

There are even hopes of replicating the successful concept in other rural towns.

“The best thing about The Good Feed is when people come in they can be unsure if they’ll fit in or if someone will talk to them but the conversations, they overflow, and the laughter, it is fantastic to see,” Malinda said.

“It builds community, it breaks down barriers, stigma and walls.”

Malinda remains humble despite single-handedly spearheading the charity.

“It’s not about me. I don’t do things to seek reward or attention,” she said.

“I’ve always volunteered throughout my life. It is about serving the Lord and working through him to bring what the community needs.”