Restaurant owners set out to help their community’s less fortunate
As we sit around the table after Christmas dinner, many will reflect on our good fortune — a roof over our heads, food on the table, friends and family who love us. We may even comment that other people may not be so lucky. And then we go have a snooze and don’t give it another thought.
But last year, Pukekohe’s Alofa Glas, Jason Goodall and their extended whanau did more than just talk.
“We had a family meeting to discuss what we’d do before last Christmas lunch,” says their daughter Kayla, 15. “The kids decided to share our experience with others who don’t have. Always, if someone didn’t have anywhere else to go, they come to ours at Christmas.”
At first the family thought they’d volunteer at the Auckland City Mission lunch, the heavy hitter of seasonal celebrations (this year 550 volunteers will feed 2000 guests at the Viaduct Events Centre). But the family of nearly 40 people (including 22 grandchildren) quickly decided that was too far away, and more for city folks. Ms Glas and Mr Goodall own the Pukekohe Lone Star restaurant, so wanted to do something for people closer to home.
Pukekohe is a town that, five years after they were merged into the amalgamated Auckland Council, is still coming to terms with being part of the Super City. Sometimes this southern country town prefers to go it alone.
They reached out to their friend Geoff Smith at the Franklin Family Support and Heartland Services. He laughs that it didn’t take him long to say yes: his centre links dozens of government and social agencies — from transport to hospital to language skills, legal, parenting and more — to a district of nearly 60,000 souls. Lone Star would provide the restaurant for 100 guests, roping in friends and suppliers to help out.
The free family lunch was on its way.
“We’d not got a shortage of clients who might be lonely or in need this Christmas,” says Mr Smith. “But we wanted to make this special, so everyone who was invited got a personal invitation to join us.”
Project manager Bonnie Reid worked with five local organisations to identify and invite guests, who will be driven to the restaurant by centre volunteers. Suppliers heard what they were up to and offered to help with ingredients, drinks, even fresh flowers.
“It just snowballed,” says Ms Glas. “The first on board was Gilmours. Then our staff wanted to come in on their one holiday to help — they reckoned it would be more fun down here. My brother-in-law is coming in to be executive chef, he’s starting prep at 6am.”
Local St John Ambulance volunteers will be dishwashers, Mr Goodall’s mates from the fire brigade are making sure a very important guest in his red suit makes it to the end of the party to hand out 40 gifts to the kids (also donated). A regular customer — who’s become a friend, it’s that kind of place — is making a dozen Christmas puddings. Kayla will be running all her cousins in front of house, the sparkly cowboy hats are at the ready. More than 50 helpers will be feeding the crowd, expected to swell to the restaurant limits of 120. The family wanted to make sure that this restaurant experience — possibly the first for some guests — will be special.
“We’re happy to help other people who can’t have the happiness of family. It’s like having all our friends in one place,” says Kayla. “We’re bringing everyone together so we can share our experience.”
And after the last dishes have been done, the last guests driven home, the family of 40 may just have enough energy for their own get-together before opening the restaurant doors on Boxing Day.
This is my final column for the Herald. It’s been a delight meeting all the people who quietly work in the background to make this city so good. Keep it up.