Many (clean) hands make light work

Many (clean) hands make light work

30 March 2020

Volunteering at Ealing Soup Kitchen

 The impact of Coronavirus has been felt around the world and we are living in uncertain times. It is at times like this, we realise the value and importance of coming together and supporting one another. We’ve been extremely enlightened to see so many communities coming together, primarily through groups on Social Media to help those in need. People are rallying around to collect groceries and prescriptions for neighbours, donating supplies to food banks and NHS hospitals, as well as forming groups to share tips on how to keep young children occupied during the lockdown.  

Earlier on this year, just before the Coronavirus pandemic hit and lockdown enforced, we were given the very humbling opportunity to spend a day volunteering at Ealing Soup Kitchen, providing food and cooking a hot meal for around 70 people. In some ways of course, the timing wasn’t ideal – whilst the news of the pandemic had only just hit, we were starting to see the gravity of the situation. At the time, however, social gathering had not been banned and we made a conscious decision to do our bit to help. With an estimated 320,000 homeless people in the UK, according to the latest research by Shelter, equating to 1 in every 201 Brits, homelessness is a cause the team feels passionate about.

Ealing Soup Kitchen is a charity established in 1973, which helps anyone who needs hot, nutritious food and a helping hand. They run weekday drop-in sessions and provide a hot meal and clothing, as well as other on-site facilities like showers, hairdresser, doctor and practical help and guidance.  

Our role on the day was to provide and cook a hot meal for 60-70 people, which was made less daunting with the support and assistance from some of the regular volunteers. It was the first time that any of us had volunteered at a soup kitchen and we didn’t know what to expect. We were instantly made to feel very welcome, shown around the kitchen, and told about the other services the charity provides. 

We chose to cook a hearty beef stew and a vegetable curry. We had chosen these dishes as we knew we could cook on mass, however we certainly had our work cut out for us and at one point had about 6 pots and pans on the stove at once! We had initially wanted to cook a big pasta dish, but were faced with the challenge of panic buying and a seemingly country-wide shortage of pasta. 

At lunchtime the doors opened and the shelter guests arrived to use the facilities and to get a hot drink and some food. Whilst we were unable to interact as closely as we would have liked, given the current situation, we were able to hold short conversations with some of the guests and found them to be extremely pleasant and personable.  

On reflection, our experience was perfect timing, as it opened our eyes to the work the volunteers do on a day to day basis, and raised an awareness of those working in industries such as charity, healthcare and education, amongst so many others, who continue to put themselves on the front line to keep things ticking over as best they can. Thank you.