Award for kitchen

By Shaun Inguanzo
THE Cornerstone Community Kitchen officially received its Highly Commended Award from the Prime Minister’s office at a special ceremony in Dandenong last week.
The unique program is a Work for the Dole initiative sponsored by Avocare and overseen by Your Employment Solutions.
It helps dole recipients who are struggling to find employment gain skills in food handling.
But the other benefit is that the meals prepared by the program’s participants go to the Cornerstone charity to feed Dandenong’s poorest residents.
The Star revealed the Highly Commended award last month.
Kitchen coordinator Suzanne Van Rooy said the Cornerstone Community Kitchen produced up to 300 meals each week.
Aside from Cornerstone’s meals, the program is responsible for preparing meals for Joeys Van, The Dove in Doveton and Hanover.
Senator Mitch Fifield presented the award on behalf of the Prime Minister at a ceremony on Thursday 6 September in the Cornerstone building in Dandenong.
Along with Cornerstone pastor Max Walker, he praised the program’s ability to not only provide skills to participants but also far-reaching community benefits.