Members of two charitable organizations in Morden were gifted recently with a hot bowl of appreciation.

Volunteers at Caring and Sharing food bank, and board members of Many Hands Resource Centre were treated to a chili lunch prepared and delivered by the staff and students of Morden Adult Education Centre.

Todd Folkett is Director of the Centre.

“We were talking amongst the staff and students about what we could do in our community to give back. It's been a little slow at times. What we thought is, could we provide a lunch for somebody in our community that would be in need of that, to bring some joy. We thought as staff and students we would make some chili and some buns and deliver it to the board of the Many Hands and then also to Caring and Sharing.”

Folkett says the most exciting part of their lunch delivery is that no one in either group was expecting it.

“We wanted to show some appreciation for the valuable service that these two behind-the-scenes boards do for our community. They work to provide food security for people in our community. We just want to give back and say thank you on behalf of Morden Adult Ed for all they do behind the scenes. They do a ton of work and it's just our way of saying thank you and enjoy lunch on us.”

Not only did the gesture put smiles on the masked faces of volunteers, Folkett says it also provided students with a sense of what it takes to be a good community member.

“It gives them the chance to see what's out there and see what's happening in our community. That's the other part of what we teach here, being good community activists.”

Folkett says others who work behind the scenes in the community may receive a similar surprise in the new year.