Newcastle Meals on Wheels will soon have an improved ability to provide for its clients after receiving more than $20,500 from a state government Community Building Partnership grant.

The not-for-profit organisation joins 17 others sharing in $300,000 from the 2019 round of the program.

Newcastle Meals on Wheels is still dedicated to serving vulnerable people within the community through the coronavirus pandemic.

General Manager Damien Isaacs said the support from this grant was a godsend.

“Our Catering Kitchen pushes out well over 5,000 meals a week and that takes a huge toll on our cooking equipment,” he said.

“We plan to upgrade our combi-therm oven and our Hobart mixer with this support, and it is well-timed for us as the pandemic increases dependence on our service and also multiplies the strain on old equipment.

“In order to support the most vulnerable in our community and keep prices affordable, we depend heavily on support like this.”

Other beneficiaries of the Community Building Partnership grant include the St Vincent de Paul Society, which will receive $30,000 for renewable energy provision at its Matthew Talbot Centre and associated transitional housing properties, and Mayfield United Junior Soccer Football Club which will upgrade their changerooms to be more user-friendly with a $20,000 grant.

“These organisations work hard for their communities, so I’m thrilled that they were successful with their applications,” Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp said.

“It was a very competitive process, which only highlights the calibre of the people within these organisations and the wonderful contributions they make to Newcastle.”

For more information about how you can help Newcastle Meals on Wheels visit their website.