Food 4 Life

Our Food 4 Life program means women living in McAuley House Footscray can be involved in all aspects of planning and cooking meals. 

In many cases, before coming to McAuley House, women have been unable to shop for and prepare their own meals for extended periods of time. Sometimes they’ve lost skills and confidence in the kitchen.

Being involved in putting together and sharing meals brings back some of the pleasures and comforts of food, which may have disappeared in the struggle simply to survive.

For this reason, the large and welcoming communal kitchen has always played a central role in the life of the house. It was designed as a place for gathering and celebrations.

With many women supported by McAuley from culturally diverse backgrounds, the house has often seen feasts from a multitude of cuisines, with women showcasing their what traditional foods mean in their culture.