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We provide delicious traditional, and modern, home-cooked meals delivered with kindness and care.
It is National Nutrition Week, and this year’s theme couldn’t be more us!
From 12 to 18 October, Australia is celebrating National Nutrition Week under the theme Love What You Eat, inspiring a connected and nourished Australia. At The Village Chef, that is exactly what we set out to do every single day.
We believe that good food should be something you look forward to. Meals that are nourishing, seasonal, and thoughtfully prepared by people who genuinely care about what lands on your plate. For the older Australians and people living with disability we serve, a delicious and nutritious meal is not just about health - it is about dignity, enjoyment, and feeling cared for.
This week we celebrate the power of food to nourish, connect and bring people together. Because a great meal really does change your day.
Happy National Nutrition Week from all of us at The Village Chef. 💛
For older Australians and people living with disability, respect is not a small thing. It is the difference between feeling seen and feeling overlooked.
It is the difference between a service that simply delivers food and one that genuinely cares about the person on the other side of the door.
At The Village Chef, respect is not something we talk about. It is something we practise, every single day, in every interaction, at every level of our organisation.
💚 More than just a meal. More than just a conversation.
Today, on World Mental Health Day, we’re reminded that looking after our mental wellbeing doesn’t always require grand gestures.
Sometimes, it starts with something as simple as sharing a meal, having a conversation, checking in on someone or taking the time to listen.
At The Village Chef by Meals on Wheels, we see the importance of human connection every day.
For many older people in our community, a friendly face, a familiar voice or an opportunity to connect can make a meaningful difference to their day.
And it’s not just about the people we serve. It’s about our volunteers, our team, our families and the wider community too.
Because mental wellbeing matters at every age and every stage of life.
This World Mental Health Day, let’s remember that small acts of kindness and genuine connection can go a long way.
A little care. A little connection. A big difference. 💚
#WorldMentalHealthDay #TheVillageChef #MoreThanJustAMeal #MentalHealthMatters #CommunityConnection MealsOnWheels HealthyAgeing
A meal is never just a meal.
For many older Australians, the knock at the door from a Village Chef volunteer is the highlight of their day. Not because of what is in the bag, but because of who is holding it. A familiar face, a warm greeting, and a few minutes of genuine human connection can make an enormous difference to someone living alone.
Loneliness and social isolation are among the most significant health risks facing older Australians today. Research tells us that chronic loneliness can be as damaging to our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. It affects mental health, physical wellbeing, and quality of life in ways that are often invisible to those on the outside looking in.
This is why Care Beyond the Kitchen is not just a tagline for us. It is a commitment. Our volunteers are trained to check in, to notice, and to be present. Because sometimes the most nourishing thing we can deliver has nothing to do with food at all.
Much of the work that happens in a kitchen like ours is rarely seen. Behind every meal that reaches someone in our community is a team that starts early, spends long hours on their feet and works tirelessly with their hands to prepare, pack and move between 600 and 1,000 meals each day.
It takes a special kind of person to show up day after day and do this work with care, consistency and pride - particularly when much of that effort happens quietly behind the scenes.
Adrianne is one of those people.
As demand for our meals has continued to grow, we have extended our kitchen operating hours and developed a second kitchen team to increase our capacity. Through this period of growth and continued transition, Adrianne has been instrumental in helping hold the fort.
She has shown tremendous flexibility and reliability, adapting to changing needs and stepping in wherever required. When there is work to be done, Adrianne gets on with it. When the team needs support, she is there. And as the kitchen has continued to evolve around her, she has remained a steady and dependable presence.
But what makes Adrianne particularly special is not simply how hard she works.
She has been a beacon of joy and diligence within our kitchen - bringing professionalism, an exceptional work ethic and a genuine sense of gratitude towards her colleagues and the organisation. She is willing to learn, open to new challenges and generous in the way she supports those around her.
There is something powerful about people who take pride in doing their job well, even when nobody is watching. Adrianne embodies that spirit.
Her contribution also represents something we deeply value about our entire kitchen team: the quiet commitment of people who turn up each day, roll up their sleeves and keep going because they know that at the other end of their work is someone in our community relying on us.
Adrianne, thank you for the long days, the hard work, the laughter, the flexibility and, most importantly, the heart you bring to our kitchen and our village.
Congratulations on receiving the Rotary Pride of Workmanship Award. We are incredibly proud to have you as part of The Village Chef.
Rotary Club of Turramurra
Did you know?
The Village Chef by Meals on Wheels has been nourishing and supporting older Australians and people living with disability across the Northern Beaches, Ku-ring-gai, and Hornsby for decades.
What started as Ku-ring-gai Meals on Wheels has grown into a modern, community-driven organisation delivering hundreds of meals every week, supported by a dedicated team of staff and volunteers who believe that a meal is never just a meal.
Every delivery is a welfare check. Every knock at the door is a moment of connection. And every meal that leaves our kitchen has been prepared with care, quality ingredients, and the nutritional needs of our clients in mind.
We are more than a meal delivery service. And we always have been.
💛 335 Smiles Bags and plenty of smiles along the way! 😊
What a wonderful way for our team at The Village Chef by Meals on Wheels to celebrate World Smile Day — we recently spent time with our friends at North Shore Mums Smiles2U and helping pack 335 Smiles Bags for children in hospital across the North Shore.
At The Village Chef, we believe deeply in “More Than Just a Meal” — that the little moments of kindness, connection and care can make a meaningful difference in someone’s day.
That’s why we love what Smiles2U stands for. While our organisations support different people in our community, we share something important: a belief that care goes beyond meeting a practical need. It is also about reminding someone that they are seen, supported and not alone. 💛
A huge thank you to the Smiles2U team for welcoming us and giving our team the opportunity to contribute.
335 bags. 335 opportunities to brighten a difficult day.
Happy World Smile Day from all of us at The Village Chef! 😊
Today, on International Day of Older Persons, we celebrate and recognise the invaluable contributions older adults make to our families, communities, and society.
At The Village Chef, we are proud to support healthy ageing through nutritious, high-quality meals that help older people remain well, independent, and connected to their community.
Good nutrition plays an important role in healthy ageing, which is why every meal we prepare is created with care, quality, and nutrition at the forefront.
Together, we can continue to value, support, and empower older Australians to age with dignity and wellbeing.
Building something meaningful takes a community, and ours is one we are endlessly grateful for. Every act of support, no matter how small it might seem, contributes to something far greater than any one of us could create alone. It keeps our kitchen running, our volunteers showing up, and our clients feeling cared for and connected.
We do not take any of it for granted. Not the trust you place in us, not the time you give us, and not the generosity you show us. You are as much a part of The Village Chef as we are.
From all of us, thank you.
If you are having trouble placing an order, whether it is navigating our website, understanding the options, or simply not knowing where to start, our team is here to help. We are happy to arrange a time for you to speak directly with a staff member or volunteer who can walk you through everything at a pace that works for you.
No question is too small and no problem is too big. We just want to make sure that getting a good meal delivered to your door is as easy as possible.
Reach out to us via the link in our bio and we will find a time that suits you.
🎄❤️ Christmas in July Luncheon - Your Feedback
We loved celebrating Christmas in July with our clients, and we’re so grateful to everyone who took the time to share their feedback. Hearing about your experiences helps us understand what matters most to our clients and ensures we can continue to provide meaningful opportunities that support health and wellbeing, encourage social connection, and strengthen our sense of community.
Here’s what you told us:
🍽️ You love your roasts!
Roast chicken, roast beef, roast pork and other roast meals were among the favourite meals mentioned. We also received plenty of positive feedback about our fish dishes, showing that a variety of well-prepared meal options is something our clients truly value.
🥕 You value nutritious, tasty meals
Many clients told us they appreciate the quality, variety and nutritional value of our meals. Comments such as “well balanced, very tasty meals” and “good nutritious food” reflected how important it is to have meals that are not only enjoyable to eat but also support health and wellbeing.
💚 Our lunches bring people together
Clients shared that attending our lunches is about much more than just a meal. The opportunity to spend time with friends, meet new people and enjoy a welcoming environment helps foster social connection, supports wellbeing and reduces feelings of loneliness.
🤝 It’s the people that make a difference
Friendliness, warmth, kindness and the care shown by our volunteers were mentioned again and again throughout the feedback. We were delighted to hear that clients feel welcomed, valued, supported and genuinely cared for when volunteers deliver their meals.
✨ What you’d like to see more of:
The feedback also highlighted several ideas for future activities and opportunities that clients would enjoy from The Village Chef:
• Seasonal menus
• Wellbeing activities and talks
• Nutrition talks
These suggestions reflect our clients’ interest in not only enjoying great food, but also learning new things, supporting their wellbeing and connecting with others in meaningful ways.
We’re excited to explore these ideas and continue developing activities and experiences that meet the needs, interests and wellbeing goals of our clients.
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and shared their feedback. Your comments help us continue to provide nutritious meals, meaningful connection and valuable support that make a real difference in people’s lives. ❤️
A wonderful evening at the Rotary Club of Turramurra last night.
We had the pleasure of joining the Rotary Club of Turramurra to share the story of The Village Chef, the people we serve, the team behind the work, and the difference a meal and a kind word can make in someone's day.
Evenings like this remind us how important it is to connect with the wider community, to share what we do and to find new people who care about the same things we do. The Rotary Club of Turramurra has a long and proud history of community service, and it was an honour to be in the room.
Thank you for having us!
Every dollar helps us to provide care and a meal, and to support the independence of people who are frail, aged or living with disability.
