The Harvest Ministry of Food, a subsidiary of the Ballarat Christian Fellowship, has catered for more than 100 people and will provide a traditional Christmas lunch including roast meat, vegetables and pudding. 

Organisers Brad Harris and Phil Tong said there was a desperate need for the free lunch in Ballarat, with many residents lacking access to food and housing, let alone Christmas spirit. 

“Many people in Ballarat have anything but a merry Christmas due to isolation, homelessness and financial issues,” Mr Harris said. 

“The Harvest Ministry of Food was established earlier this year to assist with the food security issue that faces the Ballarat community.

“It is not just the homeless who go without a meal on any given day.

“Our own research has indicated that numerous families in our community go without food on their table throughout any given week.”

The group started about six months ago and has been operating a free lunch every Thursday from its church. 

Mr Tong said the Christmas lunch was an extension of the free Thursday meals and would make Christmas a more joyous time for many who would otherwise suffer. 

“Christmas can often be the hardest time because there are just so many added stresses,” Mr Tong said. 

“Or even if you live alone, it can be a really lonely time. 

“But, here, we’ll make sure everyone has something nice to do.”

The men said they had already had a huge response to the lunch, with their website receiving 5000 clicks last week.

“There are people saying ‘at least we now have somewhere to go’,” Mr Harris said. 

The free Christmas lunch will be held at the church, on the corner of Mair and Dawson streets, and starts at noon.

patrick.byrne@fairfaxmedia.com.au