Shed full of sharing

By Ed Merrison
LONELY locals got stuck into food and a festive mood in Belgrave last week.
Almost 20 people hit the Tin Shed for community Christmas tucker on Tuesday, 12 December.
The monthly Tucker at the Tin Shed tradition, which takes place on the second Tuesday of every month from 5pm to 7pm, will resume in February.
Meanwhile, there will be another chance for a community Christmas cheer when Mission Impossible hits the Tin Shed on Friday, 22 December and organiser Teena Lee wants everybody to know they are invited.
Ms Lee, who helps out with the meals alongside several others from the Dandenong Ranges Combined Catholic Churches Volunteer Group, said it was sometimes difficult to let people living on the street know about the events.
Volunteers are also hoping to entice single mothers with their kids to the community meals which attract single women, the elderly or isolated and people with financial difficulties. “A lot of people who come to Mission Impossible hate Christmas, often because they have no family or because there’s family conflict at that time,” Ms Lee said.
“Sometimes it reminds them of loss or death – maybe they have lost someone through a drug overdose and suicide at this time of year.
“It might be something they have in common with other people at the meal and I’m sure that helps.”
Ms Lee was hoping for as many as 40 people to bring cheer to one another at Mission Impossible on Friday.
“The atmosphere is great,” she said.
“The Tin Shed always has a good atmosphere – it’s easy to spark it up and make it nice.”
The Mission Impossible community Christmas lunch will take place at the Tin Shed, 1623 Burwood Highway, corner Reynolds Lane, Belgrave, at 1pm on Friday, 22 December.
Inquiries on 9506 1239.