The Little Things Community (ItLTC) is a local charity with a mission is to provide home style meals and acts of kindness to the vulnerable, displaced and disadvantaged in our community. When Jane Stewart, ItLTC Co-Founder and CEO met Ian Bentley, Rotary Club of Hawthorn President earlier this year, the idea of the two organisations joining forces to organise a community event was hatched.
ItLTC in partnership with the Rotary Club of Hawthorn hosted, on 15 October, the inaugural Connecting Communities Lunch in Memorial Hall, Hawthorn.
It was a wonderful opportunity to bring together organisations from across our local area for a relaxed, heart-filled afternoon of connection, conversation, and collaboration.
With the catering provided by ItLTC, prepared by ItLTC and Rotary Club of Hawthorn volunteers and served by students from the Rossbourne School, the aim of this event was to explore community needs, understand the services and challenges faced by both large and small organisations and to consider how organisations like Rotary could offer support.
Attendees brought colourful banners representing their community groups and placed them around the Hall, then took their seats to make new connections whilst enjoying lunch and being entertained by the Swinburne Choir. Each community group was then introduced to the broader audience by a Hawthorn Rotarian.
Feedback from attendees after the event has been overwhelmingly positive:
“It was a great day. The food was delicious, and we met some interesting people doing some wonderful work in our community. We were thrilled to build some new connections.”
“It was fantastic and much appreciated by all attendees…The food was lovely, the choir was beautiful…I had people come to me who felt they could collaborate with my organisation.”
Sincere thanks to Ian and members of the Rotary Club of Hawthorn for your enthusiasm and support in organising such a successful event.