Author: Sandra Cavallo

Matt’s Place is about far more than serving a meal. It is a place where meaningful connections are formed and where people experience a genuine sense of belonging. These connections are vital in helping combat loneliness and social isolation in our community.

According to the City of Kingston’s Public Health and Wellbeing Survey, 21 per cent of respondents reported experiencing loneliness.

One of the aims of Matt’s Place is to help reduce this statistic by creating a welcoming community where people feel seen, valued and included.

In a recent guest survey, 96 per cent of respondents reported feeling more socially connected and less isolated as a result of attending Matt’s Place. Guests described the program as a safe and welcoming space where dignity is respected, and everyone is treated with kindness.

Moments like our recent Chinese New Year celebration highlight the heart of what Matt’s Place is all about. Guests of Chinese heritage were invited to help prepare the meal, sharing their culture and traditions with the wider community. The kitchen was filled with laughter, conversation and collaboration as volunteers and guests cooked together.

There was a real sense of joy and pride, and everyone enjoyed the delicious food that was shared.

Celebrating different cultures in this way not only enriches the Matt’s Place experience but also strengthens the sense of belonging for everyone gathered around the table.

MORE than 200 people walk through the doors of Matt’s Place in Cheltenham and Chelsea each week. Some come for a warm meal, others for connection — and many for both.

In 2025, 55 guests shared their experiences through our Matt’s Place Guest Survey. Alongside the positive impact of the program, guests were honest about what is burdening them.

Many spoke of the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, including rising food prices, rent, utilities, and medical expenses. For some, these financial stresses are compounded by social isolation, declining mental health, and limited support networks.

Against this backdrop, Matt’s Place plays a critical role. Eighty-nine per cent of respondents said the program helped reduce food-related stress, while 96 per cent reported feeling more socially connected and less isolated. Guests described Matt’s Place as a safe, welcoming space where dignity is respected and people feel seen.

As one guest shared, “It’s not just the food. It’s knowing someone cares.”

The survey reminds us that while many in our community are carrying heavy burdens, small acts of care — a shared meal, a conversation, a place to belong — can make a meaningful difference.

Click to read survey

Every week, our volunteers collect food from local Aldi stores — food that would otherwise go to landfill. In 2024, we’ve rescued over 13,000 kilograms of fresh produce, pantry staples, and frozen goods.

Instead of going to waste, this food is put to good use — turned into nutritious meals at Matt’s Place, or shared through our community pantry with people doing it tough.

One of the most appreciated items is frozen meat. For many, it’s a rare luxury — and often the difference between skipping a meal or having something nourishing to eat. Some recipients have told us, “This has been our lifeline.”

Our food rescue program is good for the planet and even better for people — but it depends on willing hands. Volunteers collect, sort, cook, and distribute this food with care and compassion. Without them, none of this would be possible.

If you’d like to be part of something that reduces waste and restores hope, we’d love to hear from you.

Express Interest

For more than 15 years, Matt’s Place Chelsea Team Leader Jaqueline Hendrey has been a tireless force, overseeing the operation of our Chelsea venue with dedication and heart.

We’re delighted to share that Jaqueline (pictured centre) was awarded Community Citizen of the Year at the City of Kingston Volunteer Awards on May 21 by Her Worship Georgina Oxley, Lord Mayor of City of Kingston.

During her time leading Matt’s Place, Jaqueline has helped serve close to 200,000 meals, consistently offering a warm welcome and creating a sense of belonging for everyone who walks through the doors.

Congratulations, Jaqueline! We celebrate you and thank you for everything you do.

We are thrilled to announce a new partnership with the Cheltenham Football Netball Club, which reached out to Community Bank Parkdale and Mentone East for a recommendation of a local group making a difference in people’s lives.

We are incredibly grateful that the club chose to support Matt’s Place community meals program. At the season launch, we were pleasantly surprised by a generous donation from Community Bank Parkdale and Mentone East, marking the beginning of what we hope will be a long and impactful collaboration with both organisations.

Bayside Community Care programs kick off in 2025, but this can’t happen without reflecting on the impact of 2024.

The Matt’s Place community meals program continues to be a lifeline for vulnerable and isolated community members, offering a hot meal and a place to belong. In 2024, we provided over 240 hours of social connection, fostering friendships, combating loneliness, and building a sense of belonging.

Our impact last year included:

• 22,500 meals served across Chelsea and Cheltenham—a 10% increase in attendance from the previous year.
• 1,153 food relief hampers distributed—a staggering 53% increase, reflecting the growing need for support.
• 13,500 kilograms of food rescued—transformed into meals and pantry staples for those doing it tough.

But these numbers only tell part of the story. Behind each statistic are countless conversations, friendships formed, and moments of genuine care, where participants felt heard, valued, and supported.

None of this would have been possible without our incredible volunteers, who gave nearly 22,000 hours of their time in 2024—a 56% increase from the previous year. Their unwavering commitment and compassion are at the heart of everything we do.

Student Grace O’Shea interviews three Matt’s Place Guests and discovers how they found a nurturing friendship and support.

Community member Jill and her companions, Caroline and Chris, greatly appreciate the support of thoughtful volunteers at Matt’s Place community meals program. According to them, the best part about Matt’s Place is “seeing and communicating with the volunteers.” Today, I interviewed these three ladies with the intention of gathering their experience at Matt’s Place and hearing from them the significance it holds in their hearts.

At Matt’s Place, guests can enjoy a delicious two-course meal and meaningful social interaction with other community members.

For dessert today, lemon drizzle cake, pavlova, and chocolate ganache with cream are on the menu —a difficult choice to make.

When asked about the benefits of attending, the women explained that the program “gives you company and conversation” and is “a place to look forward to.” Jill notes that the volunteers “really put themselves out so we enjoy ourselves,” and on special occasions, she says there’s “always a little extra something on the table, like a rose or flower.”

As a vegetarian, Jill feels at ease knowing there will be something she can enjoy. Volunteers are “very accommodating” and keen to offer you a hot drink or one of the many sweet treats from the morning tea baskets they carry around.

Jill fondly recalls a St. Patrick’s Day celebration, when green serviettes were placed on the tables to mark the event. Her face warms at the memory. These are just a couple of the little things that, combined, have an enormous impact on the guests.

Across from Jill and to my left, Caroline adds, “The volunteers here have incredible memories.”

“They remember I have a weak black tea with sugar.” She chuckles, and there is a collective nod around the table.

Of the three, Chris has been attending Matt’s Place the longest. She’s been coming for three years, and in the last two, she’s met Jill and Caroline.

There’s support for everyone in the lovely communal atmosphere of Matt’s Place. Inside, you’ll find people from all walks of life and vital companionship in times of need.

Providing a welcoming, supportive environment where attendees feel cared for and worthy is the outcome Matt’s Place strives for.

“Matt’s Place strives to provide a place that is welcoming and has the comforts of home,” remarks the General Manager of Bayside Community Care, Sandra Cavallo.  “When times are tough or perhaps we are feeling lonely, we want to know someone cares, that is the feeling we aim to create at Matt’s Place.”

Matt’s Place community meals program operates every Tuesday at Chelsea from 10.45am-1pm and every Thursday at Cheltenham from 10.30am-1pm.