Contributed by Susie Hill for Dubbo Branch of Can Assist.

There’s more than one way to volunteer in Dubbo and, for more than two decades, Dubbo Branch of Can Assist has financially assisted more than 900 locals from across our region.

However, Dubbo Branch members of Can Assist have been particularly active over the month of May with a range of worthwhile activities.

Not only was the annual Open Gardens an outstanding success socially and financially, but members are taking it in turn to cater for guests at Macquarie Home Stay on the second Tuesday of every month.

On Tuesday, May 13, for instance, the Can Assist catering team also provided a much appreciated and much-admired meal for 57 guests at Macquarie Home Stay's CWA Unit.

Although not all guests came to the dining room at the same time, Can Assist members were kept busy, with only two takeaway containers and a quarter of a plate of sweets being left in the fridges for any latecomers.

Many guests expressed delight at being able to take small samples of a variety of dishes, declaring the dinner was the best part of their medical journey! All dishes proved to be very popular.

This month’s team supplied main meals consisting of delicious pumpkin soup and rolls (Melva), lasagne (Janet RR), cottage pie (Prue), meatballs and tomato pie (Jenny S), quiche (Lyn), chicken and potatoes in jackets (Loretta), and pulled pork, broccoli and cauliflower (Ingrid).

To complete such delightful meals, sweets were served with a lemon delicious (Dinah), chocolate cake (Sandie and David), and peach and cherry cobblers and ice-cream (Susie). Meals were delivered by the supporting servers Mike and Bob.

Can Assist aims to ensure that country people, regardless of where they live, have equitable access to cancer treatment and care.

They do this by providing financial assistance, practical support and raising awareness of the inequities faced by country people, with the volunteer network seeking to ensure that country people are given the same opportunities and treatment choices as those who live in city centres.

Dubbo residents are invited to consider joining the Dubbo Branch of Can Assist as they help ease the burden of cancer for country families throughout our large region.

For more information, contact Mike Blake on 0411 761 865.