Indigo councillors and businessmen and women were among the 30 guests to enjoy a chicken parmigiana and garden salad cooked by prisoners from the Beechworth Correctional Centre.

The lunch showcased the quality and variety of meals being produced by the prisoners since the program started in November.

Project co-ordinator Trish Mom said it had been modelled on the successful program at Birallee Park Neighbourhood House.

“FoodShare in Wod-onga provides us with fresh and frozen produce for the prisoners to cook and package,” she said.

“The meals are available to anyone in the Beechworth area facing financial or emotional hardship.”

It is a partnership between Beechworth Com- munity Support, Beechworth Correctional Centre and the Beechworth Neighbourhood Centre, where the meals are cooked, packaged and frozen weekly.

Mrs Mom said prisoners were keen to train volunteers to cook on different days to keep the program running throughout the week.

“They are giving back to the community and it gives them a real sense of achievement,” she said.

Participants have cooked and frozen more than 1000 meals since November.