Every Wednesday from June to August, a team of Te Awakairangi parishioners, joined by students from Sacred Heart College, serve Soup and Toast at lunchtime in a welcoming space that is open to all. This long hard winter has seen an increase in numbers with 30 people on average attending weekly this year. People come for a range of reasons and the only question asked is which of the three delicious homemade soups you would prefer.
Soup and Toast started in 2021 when members of the Te Awakairangi Church Community questioned, ‘Where do these people we see living on the streets eat?
Five years in, the team has Soup and Toast down to a fine art, and part of that art is keeping things simple. From April a roster of helpers and soup makers is drawn up. There is a small budget from local donations to top up supplies when needed but much of the food is also donated, including after dinner chocolates.
Each Wednesday morning, one of the team visits local food banks and invites people to come. A flag on the driveway lets people know what’s happening. People from the community are joined by parishioners after Mass and everyone gets to mix in the lineup for soup and at the tables that have been set with care. The room fills with smiles and chatter and people enjoy each other’s company. For the Soup and Toast team, there is a warm feeling that comes from seeing everyone come together and making someone’s day better.
Have you got a story to share of community outreach in your parish? Contact Deirdre Meskill, d.meskill@cadw.nz
