Locals and volunteers celebrated the fourth birthday of the Paradise 4 Kids (P4K) food van initiative in St Albans on Tuesday, July 29, with a tasty spread and a community gathering.
The P4K food van has created a strong sense of community since it first started during Covid with the goal to provide hot meals and clothing for homeless people.
P4K Victorian director Jane Pallot said everybody had a great time at the event.
“The weather was perfect and everyone was just so happy,” she said.
“There were so many new people that I didn’t recognise. Obviously the word is out!”
Greek gyros, banana bread, marinated chicken, rice, desserts and 200 handmade spring rolls, made by one of the volunteers, were shared among locals as part of the celebrations.
“[People] can come on a Tuesday night and they don’t know what they’re going to get but it’s going to be tasty food,” Ms Pallot said.
“It’s grown quite big. Everyone comes not only just for the food. They just love coming to see each other and chat.
“When we started I was cooking 5 kilograms of meat. And now I’m cooking 30 kilograms of meat.”
The food initiative relies on community donations and the generosity of volunteers with any funds raised going back to the community.
“We’re small so we rely on the generosity of the general public who know about us,” Ms Pallot said.
The community kitchen runs every Tuesday evening from 5.30pm at the St Albans Market car park.
