Where a meal becomes much more
Three years in, our tiny Refettorio is a place where rescued food becomes a unique dining experience, where someone in crisis sits down to a meal made with love, served with a smile, dignity and respect by a wonderful volunteer.
Last year over 13,000 guests in need, enjoyed a three-course meal across five days every week, free of charge. Behind every plate, is the culinary magic of our chef team, transforming rescued food into something nourishing and beautiful. And beyond the food, our community workers opened conversations with guests, creating hope, comfort and referrals to support services. At Refettorio, lunch is often the beginning of something much bigger.
Community connections & education
Our weekly afternoon teas continued to bring community organisations through our doors, deepening the network of care around our guests. Nourish graduates returned as volunteers, turning their own experience of the program into service for others. NEST education programs ran throughout the year, giving community members practical skills for healthy living long after they leave our tables.
We turned three and went global! Phil Rosenthal visited for Somebody Feed Phil, and our story reached new audiences. Our Vivid Sydney Guest Chef dinner series returned for a second, sold-out year – seven exclusive evenings that were truly spectacular.
Bookings for private events continue to grow, we hosted 78 events in total, including turning the space into an art gallery! Pay-it-Forward dinners are now available on twice a week, and the generosity of our evening guests directly funds the free lunch service.
Special Thanks
More Than a Meal.
Every Tuesday, something quietly extraordinary happens at Refettorio OzHarvest. Our friends from Mission Australia arrive for afternoon tea, and what unfolds is more than food and conversation. It’s belonging, with a sense of dignity. It’s a table where everyone has a place.
Together, they’ve shared stories, swapped news about the week, and simply enjoyed each other’s company.
“Our Tuesday afternoons have been a chance for our participants to feel a part of the community and to learn and practice new skills in ways that have been so important to their wellbeing”
At the end of the year, they gifted Refettorio a hand-illustrated Christmas card. A small gesture that said everything.
