Church volunteers have announced that as of next Monday, March 1, the church has decided to open its doors for its free Monthly Monday Meals from 6pm to 7pm.

Doors will open at 5.45pm at the Uniting Church Hall in Court Street, Parkes.

Due to the onset of Covid 19 and the social distancing and government restrictions that followed 12 months ago, this popular community event was shelved.

Now as regional areas have remained free for some time of the Covid virus it has been decided to recommence.

It will be a Covid-safe environment with volunteers abiding by Covid-safe regulations.

"One of the church members has undertaken a Restaurant Covid Safe Course so we will be up to date with the latest requirements ensuring our patrons feel very safe," one of the founding coordinators of the service, Bev Hawken said.

The two-course, delicious home cooked meal has attracted many guests over the two and a half years it was operating.

"We hope everyone will feel free, safe and welcome to attend once more," Bev said.

The service all began as a new way for the church to reach out to and help the local community, and was to be trialled for 12 months.

Its first monthly meal in July 2017 saw more than 40 people attend the church and soon the numbers were reaching above 60, then 80.

In 2018 the service was here to stay.

"[We] served more than 700 guests, an average of almost 60 each meal [in the first 12 months]," Bev said at the time.

"It's been a lot more successful than we ever envisaged."

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