The Rotary Club of Albury Foundation will provide $13,000 for Carevan and St Matthews to undertake works to the room to enable access from the gardens.

The St Matthews Emergency Food Assistance program has also received $10,000 from the foundation for food, running costs and their Christmas appeal.

Carevan senior project officer Stacey Franklin said she had been working towards ensuring all of its sites were indoors during winter.

“Father Peter and I spoke about serving meals from the St Matthews garden, and we’ve been doing that for the last four months,” she said.

“Then we were talking about winter and people having a place to share a meal in warmth with more dignity.”

Father Peter MacLeod-Miller said he suggested the front of the rectory office, with some improvements, would be the perfect place.

“We’re going to make it easier to use, more welcoming, and ensure it has heating,” he said.

“It’s a matter of security as well – in opening it up, we need to be able to lock it.

“We’ll think about what other community uses we can bring to it as well.

“The sky’s the limit if you look up, as they say.”