Saturday soup kitchen

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Saturday soup kitchen

Tuesday, October 16, 2012 • Marino Harker-Smith

IN a move to help the homeless and hungry of Gisborne, the Assembly of God Church will launch a weekly soup kitchen tonight.

The Project Hope soup kitchen initiative co-ordinated by Stanley Williams, with assistance from church volunteers, will launch at the AOG hall in Grey Street at 6.30pm.

It coincides with United Nations World Food Day, which aims to highlight the role of co-operatives in improving food security and contributing to the eradication of hunger.

This 2012 World Food Day theme is “Agricultural co-operatives — key to feeding the world”.

Mr Williams said the menu tonight would include a couple of different soups with garlic bread, as well as curried sausages and pudding.

Project Hope is not just for the homeless. Anyone in the community who might be struggling financially and looking for some relief were invited to come along.

At least one day a week they could be assured of a meal, he said.

For the past couple of years Mr Williams had been considering ways he and the church could offer practical assistance to these people — a lot of whom attend the Assembly of God Sunday service. It was in the past three weeks that Project Hope was born.

A lot of people were unaware of the extent of homelessness in Gisborne, so the project was also a way to draw their attention to the fact it was an issue, he said.

“They are real people with real needs.”

The issue has a personal connection for Mr Williams, whose brother chooses at times to live and associate with these people, so it is also about creating hope for his brother.

“We’ve tried to get him out of that situation but he chooses to live this lifestyle with them, despite having the option to come home,” he said.

After tonight’s launch, Mr Williams and volunteers will open up the Assembly of God kitchen every Saturday night — from 6.30 to 8.30 — when people can come in to get a warm meal.

Food donations for the soup kitchen are welcome and you can drop these off at the church hall or contact Mr Williams on 021 0226 1139.

CREATING HOPE: Project Hope co-ordinator Stanley Williams prepares food for homeless and hungry for a soup kitchen launch at the Gisborne Assembly of God Church hall tonight in Grey Street. Picture by Dave Thomas

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