The Ferntree Gully charity providing care one meal at a time

For more than 20 years, Foothills Community Care has been a key source of support for families and individuals in need across Knox and the Dandenong Ranges.

Walking through the doors of the Upwey Baptist Community Church on a Monday afternoon, you’re met with a beautiful cacophony of sounds: laughter, chopping and cooking.

You’re also met with a sea of smiling faces, chief among them Foothills Community Care CEO and founder Stephen Barrington. Stephen started Foothills over 20 years ago and is no-doubt responsible for tens of thousands of free meals, dispersed across the eastern suburbs.

On Monday nights, Stephen and a group of volunteers host a community meal night in Upwey from 4pm to 6pm, with another meal served at the Ferntree Gully Girl Guides Hall from 4pm to 6pm on Wednesday nights.

“We have a free meal for anyone who wants to come in the door, and they can either have a dine-in meal or a takeaway meal, and also get access to fresh fruit and vegetables,” he told the Eastern Melburnian.

“It’s about good nutritious food, but more than that, it’s about safe places where people can come together, sit down here at a table and have a meal together with someone else.

“We can only do it with our amazing team of volunteers.”

Stephen said there had been an increase in need across the community during and after the Covid pandemic.

“We’ve seen that really spike for us with people being alone, people being isolated, people really in need of supports,” he said.

“Since then, with the whole cost of living increase, we’ve seen a huge increase in the need for our services.”

Stephen said work has begun on preparing for the service’s 23rd annual Christmas luncheons, set to be held at the Upwey Baptist Community Church on Christmas Eve, with the two sittings from 10.15am to 12.45pm and from 1.30pm to 4pm.

Photo Credit: Eastern Melburnian