Alex Makes Meals ... and the Salvos are truly grateful
- deansimpson7
- May 9
- 7 min read
Updated: May 9
At just 25 years of age, Alex Dekker has achieved what many only dream of. What began with a single lasagna he whipped up at 19 has transformed into Alex Makes Meals – a powerhouse food charity that has delivered close to one million free meals to Melbourne’s most vulnerable, including those supported by the Salvos. Driven by passion and purpose, Alex and his team are on an unrelenting mission to end food insecurity, as Salvos Online journalist LERISSE SMITH discovered.
There is nothing more valuable than your energy.
This is the powerful motto that guides Alex every day in his busy life ... and it’s clearly working.
In the heart of Melbourne, his thriving food charity, Alex Makes Meals (AMM), pulses with energy and passion as his team prepares and delivers warm, nutritious meals to those in need, including the homeless, disadvantaged communities and struggling families across the city.
And the need is great.
Each week, more than 3000 meals are distributed across over 50 diverse locations in Melbourne, including various Salvation Army sites, and the demand continues to increase. Local charities have requested an additional 10,000 meals per week from AMM, which relies on both practical and financial support to help reduce the waitlist.
But Alex takes it in his stride.
From humble beginnings to leading one of Melbourne’s largest food charities, his journey is truly extraordinary and inspiring. It is a story of sheer determination and hard work coupled with a driving passion and sense of urgency to eliminate food insecurity among those facing hardship.
“The urgency of our cause is underscored by the 2016 Australian Census, which recorded a significant number of individuals experiencing homelessness,” Alex said.
“No individual, especially in a city as vibrant as Melbourne, should face the uncertainty of their next meal. Hunger affects one’s ability to function both in daily tasks and socially. With financial support from the community, our organisation can donate meals, provide sustenance and hope to those in need.”
And now, his team is gearing up for their biggest-ever fundraising event, ‘Feast to Feed,’ on Saturday 17 May.
Some of Melbourne’s finest and well-known chefs are volunteering to take part, including Matt Preston, Telina Menzies, Gary Mehigan, Alice Zaslavsky, Alessandro Luppolo, Ross Magnaye and Lee Dang.
The goal? To raise $100,000.
Every dollar from the five-course degustation dinner will contribute to AMM’s mission: to bring comfort, security and resilience to vulnerable communities across Melbourne, including those supported by The Salvation Army.
“I’m still pinching myself at this year’s line-up,” Alex said. “Matt Preston was a childhood hero of mine, and I would never miss an episode [of Masterchef]. Our last Feast to Feed was an incredible success, with some terrific chefs – and this feels like a perfect progression.”
Tickets are on sale for’ Feast to Feed’ on Saturday 17 May at the St Kilda Town Hall. The event will include a five-course degustation dinner. All proceeds will support Alex Makes Meals, providing nutritious meals to the homeless and disadvantaged across Melbourne, including The Salvation Army. For further information and tickets, click here
Salvation Army connection
Alex’s connection with the Salvos goes back to the early COVID-19 days, starting with the Sunshine Corps in Melbourne’s north-west.
“Sunshine Corps has been one of our oldest partners,” he said.
“It was the early days of COVID, and our existing food relief structures were buckling under the load. When we showed up, a preppy young 19-year-old ready for anything, we found we were the only food many organisations like the Salvos could access, and thus, the only food thousands of vulnerable Victorians could eat.”
Since then, AMM has delivered hundreds of free meals to Salvos partners each week. Some of these meals stock community food pantries, and others are used to host community dinners.
Captain Phuong Reynolds, Sunshine Corps Officer, said Alex and his team had made an amazing and significant contribution to their local community. They often stepped in during critical times and consistently provided meals to those who could not afford them.
“Back in June 2020, when we received meals from Alex Makes Meals, we were so appreciative of their fantastic support during lockdown, especially during a difficult time,” she said.
“They were amazing – and we continue to be supported by the charity. We have been very grateful to Alex Makes Meals for their generosity. We work together with them to make a positive difference in our community and provide a lot of food to vulnerable people who visit us each week.”
Where it all began
The spark that ignited AMM began in 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a lasagna.
Cut off from his immunocompromised family due to the challenges of lockdowns, the 19-year-old university student channelled his energy into supporting his sister, a hospital frontliner, and her medical colleagues by preparing hearty meals. He started with a single lasagna. It was a hit.
The single act of kindness then quickly grew into something much bigger.
Alex Makes Meals emerged from Alex’s compassionate initiative to prepare meals for medical staff. From its humble beginnings, it has evolved from a one-man mission to a thriving and leading food charity in Melbourne.
When Alex made that first meal during the tumultuous times of COVID-19, it was more than just food – it was hope.
Fast forward a few years, and now AMM stands as a beacon of community spirit in Melbourne, committed to alleviating food insecurity among individuals facing hardship by providing warm and nourishing meals to those in need.
Vital volunteers Community is a key motivating force for AMM, and its mission is growing beyond providing tasty culinary cuisine.
“Beyond meals, we are a symbol of unity, illustrating that when a community comes together, no challenge is too great,” Alex remarked.
“We want people to explore our mission, share our vision, and help us ensure that hunger doesn’t stand in the way of a human’s potential. With a strong team of passionate volunteers and sustained by generous donations, we are dedicated to ensuring that no human goes hungry. With every meal, we are not just nourishing bodies but also strengthening the future of our community.”
His strong team of more than 80 volunteers are the essential backbone to his mission.
From job seekers and students to professionals, AMM unites a multitude of passionate individuals.
The roles can be varied and include delivery drivers, chefs, kitchen hands and critical behind-the-scenes players in marketing, legal, human relations and fundraising.
Furthermore, the volunteer role offers valuable hands-on experience, including mentoring and the opportunity to grow in their chosen field, advancing their professional journey, all while making a tangible difference in the community.
“When I started Alex Makes Meals, I was just a kid in my dorm-room kitchen trying to find a way to feel useful during lockdown,” Alex reflected.
“I quickly realised that any real change would require a team, people smarter than me, working together to make it happen.”
His love of cooking started early on the family farm. He discovered that if he volunteered to make dinner on the farm, he could get out of a couple of hours of work on long days.
“The problem being, of course, that if I made a bad meal, I would not get away with that for long,” Alex said. “So, I had to keep getting better!”
And would his younger self be surprised by where he is now?
“Hell yes!” he exclaims. “Present-day me is constantly surprised by where we are and the impact we have managed to have.”
When it comes to the menu items, variety, seasonality and taste are top priorities. The team cooks a wide variety of meals, around a dozen core recipes in regular rotation, and many more when counting seasonal specials.
Additionally, AMM aims to provide a variety of meals to keep things interesting and to cater for different tastes and dietary needs.
And the feedback?
“People tell us that our meals feel home-cooked, which makes me so happy because that’s exactly what we’re going for,” Alex commented.
“Every person deserves to eat well, and we are very lucky to be a part of the solution.”
As the social entrepreneur and humanitarian reflects on an amazing and hectic past few years, including being awarded the 2024 Young Melburnian of the Year, lessons have been learned. The biggest has had a profound effect – the power of community. Nobody can do it alone.
He also has valuable advice for young changemakers in the community who want to start a food charity with a social impact.
He emphasised that food relief only works if done well and consistently, adding that starting small, making smart choices, and never stopping thinking about how the experience can be improved for the people eating the meals at the end of the line were all important.
For those wanting lasting changes, there was also one additional essential: having a team that wants to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
“I realised that any real change would need to come from a group of people smarter and more capable than me, working together toward a common goal,” Alex reflected.
“Every meal we serve is a chance to make someone’s day a little better.”
For more information on Alex Makes Meals, click here
