JO Farrell is a "bustling" kind of woman.

She marshals a small army of volunteers at the Red Cliffs Community Resource Centre as they cook up a feast for participants in one of the centre's many community classes.

As the centre's executive officer, this is a pretty routine day for her.

"We do a lot of community stuff," Jo says.

"We also do cost-effective, inexpensive things that people can be involved in."

She reels off an impressive list of activities offered through the centre, including a sewing group, gardening and music, and says a men's shed is to be built in coming months.

"We haven't got a fully functioning big kitchen yet, it's going to be part of the social hub for the men's shed," she says.

"It's nearly done and it's magnificent."

The team constructs a mouth-watering array of salads, burgers and other goods in their makeshift kitchen out the front of the centre.

The kitchen is little more than a couple of camping stoves on trestle tables and most of the chefs could hardly cook an egg only a few months ago.

They are participants in the centre's "Reddy Set Cook" program which Jo runs.

"We're teaching people how to cook healthy food and how it can be cost-effective," Jo says.

"Some of this stuff has come out of our gardens – donated vegetables – and there's no meat at all."

Reddy Set Cook is an ongoing initiative with participants from all walks of life.

"We get all sorts from total novices, people who might be socially isolated, people who might have been missed out in lots of ways and older people – widows and widowers -- because they're home by themselves without food," Jo says.

This coming together of people from different areas of society is at the core of the resource centre's ethos.

Debbie Kerrison and Margaret Hopper were among those to enjoy the sunshine, a salad and a bit of a catch-up.

Margaret is a Reddy Set Cook participant and has a hand in preparing the fare.

Debbie has simply come along to socialise, along with her little bloke, who is playing around the planter boxes and swinging joyfully around the yarn-bombed poles outside the Resource Centre.

"The best thing is the home-grown veggies," Debbie says.

"And you meet a lot of good people," Margaret adds.

According to Jo, that's what Reddy Set Cook and the centre itself are all about.

"The social aspect is a huge component," she says.

"Food is a great equaliser."

To get involved, call the Red Cliffs Community Resource Centre on 5024 3455.