Dine with Heart: restaurants making a difference in Melbourne

When I think about St. Kilda, I think about a group of penguins, who return nightly to the rocks where they’ve made their home. I think about the tourists, who show up  nightly to await the penguin’s return.

When I think about St. Kilda, my mind conjures the image of a  backpacker’s paradise with round-the-clock parties and bars and hostels that draw young travelers.

And when I think of St Kilda, I think about the large population of homeless men and women, down on their luck, who call St. Kilda home. We’re often fearful of those who are different than us, averting our eyes or crossing the street when we encounter a homeless person.  But there’s an organization in St. Kilda that opened their doors instead of averting their eyes and they’re transforming the community.

Sacred Heart is committed to helping people who really need it, providing 400 meals daily to the community of St. Kilda, a neighborhood in Melbourne, Australia. They serve a community of people from mid-20s to end of life who have no friends or family and are living with the consequences that come from trauma or a bad childhood. Sacred Heart promises a warm welcome and hospitality to those that the community considers the least of these. Instead of simply giving handouts, Sacred Heart offers programs for support that address the cause of homelessness in addition to meals.

Because Sacred Heart receives very little government funding, they rely on donations to help the homeless community of St. Kilda. One way they do this is through Dine with Heart. Throughout the month of May, restaurants around Melbourne partner with Sacred Heart to donate a portion of proceeds to fund the meals program. Each meal costs $4, and Sacred Heart feeds 400 people 365 days per year, so they need our help!

During the month of May, visit one of the Dine with Heart participating restaurants to do good just by eating good food. It doesn’t get much easier than that! I was lucky enough to score an invite to the Dine with Heart Preview, and I can attest to the fact that this is going to be a very tasty month!

Here’s a list of participating Dine with Heart restaurants making a difference in the homeless community for 2017:

Babu Ji

Big Mouth

Danny Pasta

Donovans

Fitzrovia

Fork and Fingers

Grill’d Windsor

Little Blue

Mountain Goat Brewery

Ripponlea Food and wine

Roxborough

Second Act Bar – Rydges St. Kilda

St Ali

Uncle – St. Kilda

Union Club Hotel

You can see the full list and up-to-date additions of participating Dine with Heart restaurants here.

Want to do even more good? Get tickets to the Dine with Heart Gala Fundraising Dinner will take place on the stage of St Kilda’s iconic Palais Theatre on Tuesday 30 May from 7pm. Eight of the city’s top chefs, Jesse Gerner (Bomba/Añada), Alex Drobysz (Epocha), Emma D’Alessandro (Donovans), Jarrod Smith (Elyros), Chris Watson (Cutler & Co / Marion), Adam D’Sylva (Coda / Tonka), Buddha Lo (Matteos), Nicky Riemer (Bellota), and the team at Bay Leaf Catering are coming together for one night only to create a special menu for a great cause.

Sit among an intimate group of 200 onstage as the entertainment happens all around you, in the theatre and in the car park. This magical event will be hosted on the stage at the Palais Theatre Tuesday 30 May at 7pm.

Tickets are $220 per person (Tables of ten: $2,200) and are expected to sell out quickly! RSVP to Peter Mercer T: 1800 443 278 or  pmercer (at) sacredheartmission (dot) org.