Eid Mubarak celebrated at SSI Community Kitchen

SSI clients, staff and volunteers enjoyed a delicious lunch and the opportunity to participate in different activities, ranging from volleyball, portrait sketching, an art exhibition and mehndi hand painting.

A highlight of the day was the distribution to clients of 200 hand-knitted patchwork blankets, generously donated by Wrap with Love, a charitable organisation well-known for knitting beautiful, high-quality blankets for distribution to those in need.

Knitted patches are individually created by various community groups around Australia who are given specific measurements by Wrap with Love. The patches are then sent to a warehouse in Alexandria, where they are meticulously sorted and knitted together, resulting in beautiful and unique blankets.

Also on hand, were volunteers from the SBS Culture Committee who joined clients in a game of Carom and to enjoy the celebration.

 “SBS and SSI share the same vision of building a cohesive society, so it’s a great opportunity for SBS staff to meet and interact with this community,” said Matthew Leman, a Culture Committee member.

The Community Kitchen celebration finished with the tunes of DJ Reza from Iran that got guests up and dancing to a mix of English and Persian music.

Community Kitchen is a fortnightly activity organised by SSI’s Community Engagement Team that aims to provide a social day out for individuals who are asylum seekers living in the community, where they can enjoy a nutritious meal while interacting with other community members. This initiative also provides an alternative space for SSI case managers to meet and consult with their clients in a more relaxed environment.