Troubled charity the Luncheon Club, which has provided food for HIV positive people for 15 years, has been taken over by ACON and the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation (BGF).
ACON and BGF assume control of the veteran operation at the request of its founder, Carole Ann King (pictured above with supporters and volunteers yesterday).
“I have asked ACON and BGF to take over the Luncheon Club because they have the resources and capacity to maintain essential services to very marginalised people in our community,” King said in a statement.
The charity, founded in 1993, helps almost 50 people each week and counts over 700 registered clients.
It provides twice-weekly lunches for PLWHAs, and until it closed last year, also ran The Larder, which allowed positive people to take home basic food supplies.
Two months ago, King appealed to Sydney’s gay community for help to keep the charity afloat. She revealed the organisation needed $150,000 annually to keep running – with less than a third of its budget met by government. Venues that had previously supported the charity, including the Imperial and Flinders Hotels, had since closed their doors, King said, and fundraising events were at an all-time low.
“There are many valuable services to assist people living with HIV/AIDS and the Luncheon Club will be in good hands with BGF and ACON," King said.
“I’m very proud to have established a service that so many people have needed over the years. I’m very grateful to the many volunteers, sponsors, donors and entertainers who have helped over the years.”
King said ACON and BGF will take over the Luncheon Club on June 2, after “lengthy negotiations”.
Bev Lange, CEO of the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation, said hundreds of people had benefited from the work of King and the Luncheon Club volunteers.
“BGF already works with many people at the Luncheon Club and I trust that with ACON we can continue the wonderful support that they have become accustomed to,” she said.
ACON CEO Stevie Clayton said she hoped current volunteers would stay on after the June takeover.
“ACON will be drawing on the experience of the Positive Living Centre to ensure the transition is as seamless as possible, and of course we hope many of the current volunteers will continue,” Clayton said.
“Illness and the side-effects of medication can be debilitating, living long-term with HIV will cause depletion of the immune system leading to major episodic illness and social isolation can be overwhelming. For many, a warm, nutritious meal in a friendly atmosphere can make all the difference.”
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