A Morning of Meaning: Getting Our Hands Dirty with Meals With Impact
Dawn, Sharon and Michelle at Meals for Impact.
The Gembridge team stepped out of the office and into the community for a morning of food, connection and giving back.
This week, the Gembridge team spent the morning volunteering with Meals With Impact, swapping our usual desks and daily routines for aprons, a little hands-on work and the opportunity to give back to our local community.
It was a different kind of team building - one that reminded us that connection doesn't just happen around a meeting table. Sometimes, it happens while preparing food, sharing conversations and working together towards something bigger than ourselves.
Food has a way of bringing people together
At the heart of Meals With Impact is a powerful mission: to empower women from migrant and refugee backgrounds to find employment success through our shared love of food.
The organisation creates meaningful pathways into employment by celebrating the culinary skills, cultural knowledge and lived experiences of women from diverse backgrounds. The team works alongside communities to co-design meals inspired by authentic family recipes from the many countries and cultures they call home, preparing and packaging them to support food relief efforts and strengthen community wellbeing.
It's a beautiful reminder that food is about so much more than what's on our plates. It carries stories, traditions, memories and a sense of belonging. It connects us to our roots while creating opportunities to share our cultures with others.
And in a city as wonderfully diverse as Melbourne, we are fortunate to experience this every day. Our food culture is one of the many things that makes this city special - a rich tapestry of flavours, traditions and stories from across the world.
Behind every dish, there can also be a story of resilience, courage, a new beginning and the desire to build a future.
Head Chef and staff at at Meals for Impact.
The impact of showing up
Throughout the morning, conversations with the Meals With Impact team gave us the opportunity to listen, learn and connect with people whose experiences offered a fresh perspective. Hearing their stories was a powerful reminder of the diverse and rich cultures that shape Melbourne and Australia, and of the importance of creating spaces where people feel welcomed, valued and supported to thrive.
It also reminded us that making an impact doesn't always require grand gestures. Sometimes, it's about giving our time, being present, lending a hand and taking the opportunity to understand the work happening within our own community.
For us at Gembridge, it was a chance to put our values into action in a different way. Working side by side under the clear directions of Abdul, we were able to contribute to a shared purpose and truly recognise the difference that collective effort can make.
The Gembridge team volunteers at Meals with Impact, Troy, Michelle, Sharon, Chef Abdul (front and centre), Dawn, Lisa, Lauren and Jenni.
Dawn chopping coriander at Meals for Impact. Sharon in the background chopping onions.
A different kind of team building
As we reflected on the morning, each of us took away something a little different. Yet, when we shared our experiences, six words kept coming up: fulfilling, joy, gratitude, meaningful, collaborative and impactful.
Fulfilling - knowing that our time and effort had contributed to something meaningful.
Joy - found in the simple act of working together, sharing conversations and being part of something bigger than ourselves.
Gratitude - for the opportunity to learn from others, contribute to our community and be reminded of how much we can gain when we step outside our usual routines.
Meaningful - because the morning was about more than just volunteering. It was an opportunity to connect with a purpose, support an important mission and see firsthand how small contributions can make a real difference.
Collaborative - as we rolled up our sleeves, worked side by side and combined our efforts towards a shared goal. It was a reminder that when people come together with a common purpose, the impact can reach far beyond what any one person can achieve alone.
Impactful - because even a few hours of our time can contribute to something bigger - supporting women, strengthening communities and helping create opportunities for others to thrive.
Proud to be part of a community
Days like these create a different kind of connection within a team. They encourage us to see beyond our individual roles, build relationships in new ways and reconnect with the human side of what it means to work together.
We walked away feeling grateful that we could contribute, even in a small way, to the important work Meals With Impact does every day. Our team was proud to know that one of their community partners from Broadmeadows would collect the 482 meals we prepared and packed at the end of the day and deliver them to vulnerable families.
If you're in Melbourne's CBD, we encourage you to visit the Meals With Impact café, enjoy the food and support the incredible work they're doing. You can also explore their online offerings and order directly to support their mission.
To the team at Meals With Impact, thank you for welcoming Gembridge, sharing your stories and reminding us of the power of food, connection and community. Such a well-organised and impactful Corporate Volunteering experience.
At Gembridge, we're proud to be part of a community where we can give back, learn from one another and make a difference together.
Because sometimes, the most meaningful team days aren't about what we achieve at work, but about what we can contribute beyond it.
Jenni and Lisa are showing the end product - Malaysian dahl with rice.
Gembridge prepared and packed 480 meals!
Chef Abdul and Sharon