Supporting The Winsome: A Place of Welcome, Connection & Dignity

The Winsome is more than a place to get a hot meal — it is a place to belong.

Every day, more than 100 people can walk through the doors of The Winsome seeking a meal, practical support, connection, or simply a safe and welcoming place to spend some time. At the heart of everything The Winsome does is a simple belief: every person is someone to be met, not a problem to be fixed.

The Winsome & Lismore Soup Kitchen Inc. is a community-based, volunteer-run not-for-profit organisation in North Lismore, NSW. From its home in the historic former Winsome Hotel at 11 Bridge Street, The Winsome provides support to people experiencing disadvantage, homelessness and social isolation.

More than a meal

The Winsome serves hot, nutritious lunches, desserts and takeaway sandwiches 365 days a year. For many patrons, however, the value of coming to The Winsome goes far beyond food.

It can mean sitting down with someone for a cup of tea or coffee. It can mean being greeted by name, having a conversation, finding a listening ear, or simply experiencing a sense of community and acceptance.

A dedicated team of Day Managers, café volunteers, baristas and helpers work together to create an environment where people feel welcomed, respected and heard.

Alongside meals, The Winsome provides transitional and longer-term accommodation, as well as access to a network of practical support including visiting medical services, financial counselling, legal assistance and referrals to other community services.

A community built on compassion

The Lismore Soup Kitchen began in 1990 and purchased the historic Winsome Hotel in 2009, creating a permanent home from which to support the local community.

Today, The Winsome continues to operate through the incredible commitment of volunteers and the generosity of the community. It is a place where small acts of kindness can have a meaningful impact — a meal shared, a conversation offered, a person listened to, and a helping hand extended.

By supporting this event, you are helping The Winsome continue to provide food, connection, dignity and practical support to people who need it most.

Together, we can help keep the doors open and ensure that everyone who walks through them knows they are welcome.

Contact the host of The Winsome Soup Kitchen Auction Fundraiser