Mother and son in mealmarathon

With her six-year-old son Kohen by her side, Jordyn Youngman prepares to cook 500 meals for the Albany men’s crisis centre this winter.

This will be the third year Ms Youngman has rallied community support to provide meals for the homeless at Shalom House.

As her house fills with donated packets of pasta, tinned tomatoes, tuna and vegetables, the 25-year-old said it would be her biggest cook-up and her son would be by her side every step of the way.

“He gets involved as much as he can,” she said.

“I take him down when we drop off the meals and he talks to the men there.

“It’s really good; he realises not everybody has a roof over their head and family around. I’m trying to teach him, to help where you can.

“It doesn’t have to be massive, just help.”

Last year, the Youngmans made 415 meals and in 2015 they made 300 meals for the shelter.

“I think men’s centres need a lot of support ... there is not a lot of funding,” she said.

“It’s something to give back and it’s good for Kohen to get involved.”

Shalom House provides crisis accommodation to those in need during the winter months from May to October.