Migrant kitchen opens in the CBD – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

“My oldest daughter always tells me, ‘Mama, you have a really great job, you have to go for it, put all your heart into it’,” she said.

The idea behind Meals with Impact, which started as a food relief and catering service during the COVID-19 pandemic, stemmed from the lockdowns of Melbourne’s public housing towers in 2020.

A rushed government response led to culturally inappropriate meals delivered to the thousands of residents locked inside the flats.

This became a catalyst for co-founders Nikki Blanch and chef Harris Ryan to establish a program dedicated to creating culturally relevant food relief and employment opportunities for refugee and migrant women, particularly those in public housing.

Blanch said many of women used their income on children’s education, including school tutoring fees, and often sent money to support their families overseas.

Loading

“Most of the women have never worked in Australia before, or they’re trying to return to the workforce,” she said.

“They love the feeling of a sense of belonging and the friendship they gain through working with women from all over the world. They say it feels like family.”

Rahim was the social enterprise’s first employee and initially took meals to families door-to-door during the lockdowns.

“I even got my husband involved as he was an Uber driver at the time,” she said.

Loading

The Fawkner woman has since…