Saviour of Timaru Community Christmas Dinner looking for volunteers

Tash Rankin has saved Christmas dinner for the community.

Now she is looking for a “food partner in Christmas’’ for the annual initiative she has taken over, following a plea to the community from its former organiser.

The Timaru District Community Dinner, held on December 25, did not go ahead in 2021 because of Covid-19, with the year before attracting a record number of volunteers.

Last month former co-ordinator Melissa Brennan made a plea for a group of people, or a volunteer, to take over the event’s organisation if the event was to be run again in 2022.

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Seeing the post on a social media community page Rankin, of Geraldine, contacted Brennan to see if anyone had put their hand up to help.

“I thought, ‘oh well, I’m prepared to put something together’,’’ Rankin said.

Living by the mantra, be the change you want to see in the world, she said it was important the dinner did not “go by the wayside’’, and for the past few weeks the Geraldine woman has been organising the event.

“We forget how much need there is in South Canterbury.

“People just think Auckland or other big places have need.”

She said it was important to get the message across that the dinner was more than just a free lunch.

“There are all sorts of people from all walks of life there, in a neutral space.’’

Christmas could be a tough time for some, so it was nice to know people could have a place to gather on the day, and enjoy the company of others, she said.

Volunteers were also being sought to help out on the day, and in the lead up to the event.

“We need a chef or someone who wants to make the food.

“Someone who will know how to cook for a lot of people – a food partner in Christmas.’’

She said, in the past, the volunteers on the day had enjoyed the connection with other people.

“Volunteers get just as much out of the dinner as the people who have the lunch.

“Even if people don’t have money to offer, if they’re okay to peel a spud, that’s great.’’

There were also tasks people could do leading up to the day such as someone who was interested in organising the decorations, someone, or a group, willing to organise small gifts for children at the dinner, she said.

“Also, someone who maybe wants to do the transport to the dinner.’’

There are two vans available to take diners to and from the meal, one provided by South Canterbury Toyota.

One change she also hoped to see this year was van loads coming from Temuka, Pleasant Point and Geraldine.

Rankin, who helped organise the return of Toot For Tucker to Geraldine, said she felt “pretty organised’’ and had brainstormed ideas onto paper hung in her hallway.

“There’s going to be food and people, it will be great.’’

The Timaru Community Dinner begins at noon at the Caroline Bay Hall.

There is space for about 250 people and registrations are essential.