A source of culinary inspiration that results in doing good for others can strike anyone, anywhere.
For 28-year-old Scott Mileto of Good Times Only hospitality group, his ‘light-bulb moment’ occurred a few years ago when he was walking through Sydney’s Central train station. From that moment on, he knew he wanted to help feed the homeless.
“Growing up in the country, in Orange, we’d never really been exposed to homelessness - not like what we saw [that day],” Mileto, who has Italian roots, tells SBS. “I broke down. I remember thinking ‘this could happen to any one of us’...We are all major event away from being in the same position as a lot of people who don’t have a permanent home.”
If we can get homeless and non-homeless people around a big communal table chatting, then, when you or I are walking down the street and see someone sleeping rough, maybe we will stop rather than continue to walk past.
The hospitality entrepreneur now lives and works in the Wollongong region of NSW. Mileto says homelessness is a growing issue throughout the coastal city. “Working in hospitality late at night, we see a lot of the rough sleepers out and about trying to keep warm. It’s an issue that’s always visible to us.”
In an effort to battle homelessness this winter, Mileto and his two business partners, Ben Abraham and Luke Symons, decided to put their hospitality skills to good use.
The trio has teamed up with Wollongong Homeless Hub and, which helps older homeless people find affordable accommodation, to run Good Will Only: a pay-as-you-feel vegan eatery in the heart of Wollongong’s CBD.
“If we can get homeless and non-homeless people around a big communal table chatting, then, when you or I are walking down the street and see someone sleeping rough, maybe we will stop rather than continue to walk past. Because we won’t think [that’s just a ‘homeless person’] but we will remember that it’s actually Sharon or Greg who we had dinner with two weeks ago.”
Good Will Only...from now on
The restaurant, open from 5-8pm every day from Monday 3 June to Sunday 30 June, is the first of its kind in the Illawarra region. It will provide Wollongong’s homeless population with a cheap or free meal while encouraging people with the means to pay to make a worthy donation for the two-course meal they receive.
“House-made lemonade will be on every table, with fresh citrus donated by participating venues in town. Each night, there’ll also be a main option, which is a curry with rice or soup with bread. And there’ll always be a vegan, gluten-free cake served at the end.”
Mileto expects the pop-up will serve 200 two-course vegan meals each night.
Co-owner of Good Times Only, Abraham, says the menu will rotate daily based on what food is donated. "So it's not always set or the same. The aim is hearty healthy food, and we work backwards from what produce we receive."
Abraham explains that one of the challenges of the project is many people who may need a free meal may not know their food intolerances. The main reason the food will all be vegan is because it is an inclusive form of eating. All meals served will also aim to be as allergen-free as possible.
Pumpkin soup, a dish that will be served to both the homeless and housed alike at Good Will Only in Wollongong, NSW. Source: Supplied
"So whether you are gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, eat halal food, we will be able to cater to everyone and there’ll be no confusion or worry,” Mileto adds.
The main reason the food will all be vegan is because it’s the most inclusive form of eating.
The site of the pop-up, a vacant space bound for renovation later this year, was donated for the cause. Around 15 chefs of varying skill levels, hailing from Wollongong's one hat restaurant Caveau to local cafes, have volunteered to cook at Good Will Only. Every morning of the operation, two chefs will join Mileto to prepare the meals while also balancing their day jobs.
Nine community volunteers, aged 15 to 78-years-old from all walks of life, will work on the restaurant floor each night.
“We have a Syrian refugee who will be volunteering with us on the floor as well. His agency contacted us saying he has had issues finding work. So we will get him in for a few shifts and hopefully, that will give him a platform to hopefully secure some work in the future.”
A social worker will also be on-site every night during the pop-up’s operation to provide assistance to anyone who needs it.
The whole project is for the vulnerable, first and foremost.
Mileto says Good Will Only will be evaluated at the end of the month. If it’s successful, he’ll push to make it a permanent feature in the city.
“The whole project is for the vulnerable, first and foremost. If it means that for one whole month they are fed, then that’s awesome. If it raises awareness about homelessness in the community and we get donations on the door to give to the participating charities, that’s even better.
“And, if it turns out that this is a service that’s needed in the area on a permanent basis, then that’s amazing too."
The Good Will Only pop-up will be located at 64 Crown Street, Wollongong, NSW. To volunteer at the restaurant or to enquire further, email Scott: scott@goodtimesonly.com.au
