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Meet our commercial cook Lucy
February 12, 2025
A unique aspect of our holistic approach to care is the presence of our commercial cook, Lucy Lewis, and trained kitchen volunteers, who create home-cooked meals tailored to each child’s dietary, medical and cultural needs. They also ensure families eat well when staying for end-of-life and after death care.
Lucy has over 35 years of experience in the food industry, including work at high-end restaurants worldwide, her own catering business and contributions to top publications like the Sydney Morning Herald and Good Weekend Magazine.
Having grown up in a medical family and with a personal connection to disability, Lucy feels deeply aligned with our mission and is excited to create nourishing meals that bring comfort to the children and families we support.
I was inspired to work at Very Special Kids because of my love of children and wanting to make a difference in people’s lives.
“When I cook for someone, I always feel a connection, whether it is to bring people together or to nurture them through food.
My role is very important at Very Special Kids as I look after the daily nutritional needs of the children, providing them with comfort and a smile at mealtime, particularly if they are feeling unwell or homesick.”
Our approach to meal preparation is not just about nutrition; it’s also about building opportunities for connection and delight.
Most recently, Lucy and 4-year-old sibling Chloe spent some quality time together baking yummy cookies.
Each cookie was decorated with a unique assortment of smarties, in the shapes of stars, hearts and more.
Activities like these can offer children another avenue of play, allowing them to enjoy tactile–led activities that focus on being a kid.
In 2024, more than 2,000 meals were prepared for children and young people with life-limiting conditions, and their families.
We look forward to all the great things Lucy will bring to the table this year – literally and figuratively!
