PAYCE Foundation Impact Report 2021

ME A L SHAR E

Deliveries a lifeline for Cristina during lockdown E rmington resident Cristina was working on the frontline of a supermarket during the long COVID-19 lockdown over winter. Taking her job seriously, she was determined to help elderly people get all they needed during those stressful times living under restrictions. “It was a devastating time; there were people coming in who didn’t have the money to buy all the food they needed,’’ she said. Meal Share recipient Cristina said the meals gave her the strength to get through the lockdown.

Cristina said it was tough to see older people struggling and living with fear and anxiety. Working long days left her drained and exhausted. With her ailing parents outside her lockdown area, she was isolated. As the cold months dragged on, while caring for her beloved dogs, Cristina neglected her health, including meals. It wasn’t long before isolation, concern for her unwell parents, a bout of pneumonia and a lack of nutrition was taking a toll on her health. “I was literally going to work on empty, dragging myself back home, not wanting to cook anymore because I was so drained,’’ Cristina said. “I was just going downhill.’’ That’s when a friend stepped in and suggested that she reach out to the PAYCE Foundation-supported program Meal Share. The Foundation established the seven-day meal delivery service through its social enterprise Kick Start to assist the vulnerable in the local area. With the food deliveries, Cristina started to regain her strength. She said the food was great, and the bi-weekly drop-off from the friendly Kick Start team and volunteers was something she looked forward to. “We really needed a service like this,’’ Cristina said. “It was amazing to know that someone cared enough about me to feed me – I was like, ‘I am not alone.’ “I was feeling, ‘Thank God – there is a light at the end of the tunnel’.’’ Meal Share has delivered 30,000 meals during the Sydney COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020 and 2021.

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