I stayed on at the Soup Kitchen for the lunch service where I helped serve then moved on to clearing and washing up. Chef Arul cooked an amazing chicken curry with a paneer vegetarian alternative (I tried the latter and it was delicious). Despite a slow start to the morning we served over one hundred hungry clients with takeaways also available. As always it was hard work but lovely to be there and see how much the guests enjoyed their meals.

Back at the Soup Kitchen and a session in the tea station for me today. We didn’t have the queues of last week but there was a steady flow of guests coming through. The addition of cereal is very popular and this morning there were chocolate eclairs which went like hot cakes!

I joined an extremely busy lunch shift at Ealing Soup Kitchen today. It was Chef Nigel’s first time being in charge in the kitchen - with over one hundred guests - and his meal was a massive hit. There was a paprika chicken dish with rice or vegetarian alternative - and the clients loved it. A shortage of volunteers meant I was moving between serving lunch, clearing tables and helping with the washing up. But it was all worth it to see the smiles and get such positive feedback from the clients 😊

It was great to back at Ealing Soup Kitchen after a couple of months away. There was a large queue when doors opened at 11am and it seemed that everyone wanted a drink. I helped out with the drinks service for a while then went into the kitchen when it got quieter. After their hot drinks, clients moved on to the Snow Cones machine which proved very popular. And of course I had to try it for myself - it was most welcome in a hot kitchen 😊

Lunch time and it was time to rock and roll in the kitchen and service area. Melissa and Steph Ducat were in the kitchen to serve food and they were joined byLibi who decided to stay and help. The trio platted the dishes before they were handed to the service crew where Jacquie was handing over the food to hungry customers. As good Friday, it was a fishy day : Salmon with lemon served with potatoes and green beans or stuffed peppers with the veggies on the side.Then came cake with hand made cream.Something fishy in the air but the customers loved it. The team served food and started cleaning pots and pans to avoid stating behind with all dirty pots. Some take away dishes were provided once everyone had been feed.

All customers and volunteers received Easter eggs - Happy Easter all.

Not your normal Friday at the ESK Hub : Good Friday indeed. Means a Frdiay with a twist. No grocery bags, no clothing section, no showers but instead you still had the bingo, the tea and coffee service and a choir session to celebrate Easter. A first at ESK for both Libi who was on tea and coffee duties and Melissa who was in the kitchen with the usual suspect Steph Ducat. Jacquie was back from Australia and ended also between the kitchen and service area. In the kitchen something fishy was going on...prep for the lunch service!!After 12:15 you could hear some singing from the choir and the customers joining in. Lunch time was approaching and the kitchen and service crew were getting in place.