$3 Krishna lunches hit spot

Student Max Gunn receives a plateful of vegetarian goodness from Hare Krishna Jane Beecroft, who...
Student Max Gunn receives a plateful of vegetarian goodness from Hare Krishna Jane Beecroft, who is celebrating 20 years of serving vegetarian lunches on campus at the University of Otago. Photo: Gerard O'Brien.
After moving to Dunedin to retire, Jane Beecroft soon found herself with more on her plate than she first anticipated.

"I came here hoping to take it easy.

"Then I started teaching vegetarian cooking; soon enough word got out and it turned into the lunches."

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Hare Krishna vegetarian lunches on campus at the University of Otago, an initiative started by Ms Beecroft in 1997.

On a busy day  more than 300 students could arrive for a meal  in the space of two hours.

The $3 main courses  are served four days a week, Monday  to Thursday, with Wednesday’s fresh bread and soup  a  favourite.

Ms Beecroft, who has been a Hare Krishna for more than 35 years, said she and her team tried to create an environment that felt  like a home away from home.

"That’s what I want it to be. We get a lot of international students here, so they’re away from their families. If we can create a place where they feel loved and cared for then that’s really great."

"It’s so joyous — you can see it in the exchanges we have with the students."

Law student Max Gunn said he had been coming to the lunches for years to get his vegetarian fix.

"It’s got such a community vibe. I’m a big fan of their samosas."

After finishing their meals, which can include dessert for a dollar extra, students wash and dry their own dishes.

Third-year medicine student Reuben Cane said he dropped in  for a feed at least once a week,  and he was not the only one in his house.

"One of my flatmates comes pretty much every day. The food’s so cheap but so good."

"Jane always puts a smile on your dial."

Ms Beecroft said she loved every second of her 20 years of service, and hoped for 20 more.

"If I took my last breath handing over a plate of food to a happy student then that would be a good way to go, I reckon."

- Luke Tumaru

 

The numbers

• 500,000 meals served since 1997

• 250 The approximate number of students fed daily

• 150 samosas handed out daily

• 20kg of rice dished out daily

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