Jackie Baillie visited St Augustine’s Soup Kitchen recently.
A dedicated team of volunteers work hard to welcome all those who come along on Fridays to the Soup Kitchen at St Augustine’s Hall.
Freshly made hot soup is served along with a selection of sandwiches and other savoury items, followed by tea, coffee and cakes.
The initiative has far exceeded its initial target of feeding just a small number of people per week. Currently between 70-80 people are fed, and the demand for the service is continually increasing.
Poverty, addiction and loneliness are among the factors which bring people from the town and beyond through the Hall’s doors.
Watching people chatting and enjoying food together almost makes it easy to forget the list of heartbreaking reasons for which they come along.
For some it is the only hot meal of the day. For others, it’s human contact and company which makes the free Lunch special. It gives them the chance to chat with people they may otherwise never cross paths with.
The Lunch is free for anyone to attend.
Donations are welcome to help the project continue. It is needed now more than ever as the cost-of-living crisis is affecting everyone.
Our Rector, Revd Heller Gonzalez, addressing the Scottish Parliament during Time for Reflection said:
“For such a small place, the number of people struggling is heartbreaking…, to the people we serve and to us, this is important work. As a result of the cost-of-living crisis, we have seen a sharp increase in the need for these hubs. As is often the case, people of goodwill and compassion have come forward when most needed. The opening words of the Rule of St Benedict sum it up beautifully. There needs to be a listening with the ears of our hearts”.
Food for Thought serves also a free lunch for the community in the hall on Wednesdays (12 noon – 2 pm).
