By JOLENE OGLE
THERE’S a new restaurant in Tewantin – but this one has no menu, no wait staff and operates solely on donations.
Introducing the Tribal Communities soup kitchen that will open on 1 April, with local unsung hero and business owner Peter Holliday the driving force behind the community service.
Founded by Peter, Tribal Communities is a not-for-profit organisation that will raise funds for and operate the soup kitchen in Tewantin at the CWA Hall, thanks to the support of the Tewantin Noosa RSL.
The soup kitchen will open on April Fool’s Day, Wednesday 1 April at 5.30pm, but Peter says homelessness in the region is no laughing matter.
“People often think everyone in Noosa is rich, when it’s just not true. We should all know a soup kitchen is needed here,” he said.
“Social problems like this are hidden in Noosa.”
Everyone is welcome to drop in to the soup kitchen and enjoy a hot meal, which Peter is currently funding himself until donors can be found.
It’s hard to imagine such a selfless act can be described as selfish, but that is exactly how Peter sees it.
“I enjoy having people around me,” he said.
“I was in the tourism industry for over 30 years and I’ve always had groups of new people around me and since I left the industry, I’ve missed that.
“This is me being selfish and wanting to share with people. And if I can help too, that’s great.”
Peter said his dream is to open a seven-day drop-in centre for people in the community who are homeless or doing it tough.
“Everyone needs somewhere to go,” he said.
The Tribal Communities soup kitchen will open on Wednesday 1 April with meals available from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.
Peter asks that, if it is possible, to phone ahead to let him and his team know how many people to cater for.
“We don’t know how our first few nights will go, we don’t know how many people will come,” he said.
“So if you can phone ahead that will help us cater for everyone.”
But it’s also OK to just drop in to the kitchen located at the CWA Hall, Tewantin, next to the post office.
The next soup kitchens will be on 5, 7, 12, 19, 21, 26, and 29 April from 5.30pm to 7.30pm each night.
For May the kitchen will be open on 2, 5, 10, 17, 19, 24, 27, and 31 May from 5.30pm to 7.30pm each night.
If you would like to help sponsor Tribal Communities or to donate, please phone Peter on 0456 077 794 or email tribalcommunities999@gmail.com.
