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Host Volunteering Overview

Mary Mags Dinners host volunteering involves coming along on a Saturday night, 5:00pm - 8.15pm to help put on dinner for others living in our neighbourhoods

Our mission is to be a place of peace and community over a meal on Saturday nights

We believe our dinner has the power to break down barriers, fight loneliness and reduce hunger for our neighbours, since 1991

Host volunteers enter into these side doors between the church and pub at 5.00pm

If the door is shut, knock and someone will let you inside

  • Arrive at 5:00pm

    We ask all our host volunteers to please arrive at 5:00pm to help set up for the dinner and meet your coordinators and other host volunteers for the night. There’s an overview of the night at 5.30pm run by the coordinators.

  • Dinner Served at 6pm

    At 6pm we welcome our guests and begin serving our first course, homemade soup, followed by mains then dessert. We also make our guests water, cordial, tea, coffee or milo.

  • Takeaways & Pack Up at 7.15pm

    If there is left over food we provide takeaways after dessert has been served. Together all the volunteers farewell the guests and together help to clean and pack-up the night.

  • Debrief at 7.45pm & finished by 8.15pm

    We finish our night with a debrief led by the coordinators. This involves touching base, sharing any encouragements, concerns or needs noticed during the evening. We finish the night with some quiet reflection/prayer and then head home.

FAQ

  • We have guests who are experiencing and at risk of homelessness, living in government housing in and around Adelaide City, experiencing financial difficulty or simply looking for community

    Please note the meals are strictly for guests aged 18 years and older, children can not attend Mary Mags Dinners

  • Yes, please fill in the contact details below and you’ll be contacted by a coordinator about this Saturday nights meal

    *No need to fill out the form if you’ve already spoken to a host coordinator or you’re coming with an organised group

  • After you’ve come 1-2 times and would like to make host volunteering a monthly rhythm of your calendar, you can sign up for our host volunteer roster

    Please contact hello@marymagsdinners.org


    The host roster commitment is 1 x Saturday a month, 5:00pm - 8.15pm

    You will be able to give your availability

    We create quarterly rosters, however, you can join at any time. We love having new host volunteers join!

  • Minimum age to come to host volunteer at Mary Mags Dinners is strictly age 16

    Host volunteers aged between 16-17 need an adult supervisor. With a ratio of 1x adult supervisor to 5x volunteers aged between 16-17

  • Yes, please get in touch below and we can help answer any questions and help facilitate your group coming and helping host

    Please note: We have a max of 10 people per group, per night

    When more than 10 people are interested, we simply recommend groups to be spread out over numerous weeks e.g groups of 4 people spread out over 3 weeks+

  • The host coordinators are all volunteers who have been volunteering with Mary Mags Dinners for extended periods of time. They have good relationships with the guests, in-depth knowledge of the structures and lead the night

    No one is paid, our governing board and all people involved are 100% volunteers

  • Closed shoes, loose-fitting casual clothing for inside and outside weather - that might get a little bit of soup or washing up water spilt on

  • There’s free car parking in the surrounding area. Next door to St Mary Mags Church is paid parking

  • No, host volunteers do not need to show a police check

    The host coordinators all have police checks

Please contact us if you would like to help host the Mary Mags Dinners or have any questions

You will receive an email reply to the email address you supply