“Our volunteers’ compassion is the backbone of this initiative,” Gourisetty said, crediting the dozens of community members who give their time each week.
A quiet but powerful act of compassion has been unfolding every Saturday afternoon in Melbourne’s western suburbs, where volunteers have been serving free, hot meals to people doing it tough — no questions asked.
Since the start of 2025, the Annapurna Food Distribution has provided more than 5,000 vegetarian meals in Footscray, turning a modest community effort into a lifeline for many facing food insecurity. The volunteer-run initiative paused last weekend for the summer break, with plans to return in February 2026.
Each week, volunteers from Australia Hindu Mahasabha Inc. and Sri Durga Temple set up tables in central Footscray, offering freshly prepared meals and water to anyone in need. The dishes are cooked earlier in the day in the temple kitchen in Deanside and transported to the distribution site.
Behind the initiative is Dinesh Gourisetty, the coordinator and founder of the Annapurna Food Distribution and the founding president of the Australia Hindu Mahasabha. Friends say his commitment to community service has been evident for decades.
“Dinesh always used to say, I want to work for the community, not any company,” recalls Arvind Shanghais, a former university friend.
Having migrated from India as a student in 2001, Gourisetty went on to build a successful career as an entrepreneur in Melbourne. Along the way, he quietly supported people experiencing homelessness, often providing free meals through his restaurants in the city’s west. That same belief — that no one who is hungry should be turned away — underpins the Annapurna initiative.
The name “Annapurna” reflects the philosophy behind the project. In Hindu tradition, Annapurna is the goddess of food and nourishment, symbolising abundance and care. For Gourisetty and his team, the program is an expression of seva — selfless service — a principle that places service to humanity at the heart of faith and community life.
Organisers stress that the weekly gatherings are about more than food. Volunteers greet recipients with respect, take time to talk, and aim to create a welcoming environment rather than a transactional handout. Those receiving meals include people experiencing homelessness, struggling families, international students and others hit by the rising cost of living.
“Our volunteers’ compassion is the backbone of this initiative,” Gourisetty said, crediting the dozens of community members who give their time each week.
Over six months — roughly 25 Saturdays — the impact has been tangible. The final distribution for 2025 saw volunteers serving hot curry and rice as usual, with regular attendees expressing gratitude and the team reflecting on how far the project had come.
“When communities come together with purpose, compassion becomes action — and action creates change,” Gourisetty said.
Encouraged by the response in the City of Maribyrnong, the organisers are now planning to expand the program in 2026 to neighbouring areas, including Wyndham and Hobsons Bay. Discussions are underway with local partners to secure new locations and resources, while maintaining the same volunteer-led model.
After a short summer pause, the Annapurna Food Distribution is set to return in February — re-energised, expanded, and driven by the same simple vision: turning compassion into action, one meal at a time.
Political Visionary & Community Leader
Dinesh Gourisetty is a community advocate and political leader dedicated to enhancing multicultural representation in Australian politics.
