Luton soup kitchen serves 120 meals in underneath 20 minutes | EUROtoday

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Kian Boyle/BBC A large group of adults and children stand together at night beneath a black canopy labeled “Luton Sikh Soup Kitchen". They face the camera, some wearing hi-vis vests, with a lit Christmas tree and surrounding buildings behind them.Kian Boyle/BBC

Luton Sikh Soup Kitchen was based in November 2021

A soup kitchen has handed out 120 meals parcels in underneath 20 minutes.

Luton Sikh Soup Kitchen, a daily fixture outsidethe city corridor on Sunday evenings, has served 30,000 scorching meals since its launch.

Volunteer Gurch Randhawa, stated: “It shows you, sadly, how the cost of living crisis is affecting people.

“In the queue some persons are homeless, some in hostels, however really some have jobs however simply do not come up with the money for – and that queue was already going midway down the road earlier than six.”

Kian Boyle/BBC A person is standing outdoors at night beneath a canopy, wearing a bright orange reflective safety vest over a thick blue jacket. Around him are other volunteers, some also in reflective gear. Kian Boyle/BBC

Gurch Randawa said Luton Sikh Soup Kitchen serves up to 150 hot meals a week

He said the hardest part of the evening was packing up while people were still arriving and having to turn them away.

“That’s the problem that in these winter months that lots of people have not had a scorching meal all day and we’re their solely supply of a scorching meal on a Sunday,” Mr Randawa said.

Despite the challenges and whatever the weather, the team has never missed a Sunday.

Volunteer Sonia Bains said: “It’s our alternative to present again to the group. There’s such a necessity in Luton, and it is also a part of our faith to do selfless service. It feels so fulfilling.”

Kian Boyle/BBC A woman stands under a lit outdoor canopy at night, facing the camera. She wears a dark coat, a purple headscarf, and blue gloves, and smiles calmly. Behind her, volunteers in high-visibility vests work at tables. Kian Boyle/BBC

During the winter months, volunteers such as Sonia Bains distribute sleeping bags, hygiene kits and women’s hygiene products

Kian Boyle/BBC A woman wearing a yellow hi-vis vest and dark coat stands under a lit canopy at night, facing the camera. Behind her, other volunteers in reflective vests work near a white van.Kian Boyle/BBC

“It’s simply incredible what they do, so we similar to to assist,” said Lynn Bird

Lynn Bird, whose employer Thurlow Nunn has supported the cause by providing a van to transport supplies and equipment each week, said it was important “to assist and do one thing”.

“I’m a Lutonian, so realizing there’s so many homeless folks and you do not realise until you come down and see it first hand simply what number of are queuing up,” she stated.

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