Young and old at the cafe

It's been a while since I reported on the progress of our surplus food cafe.
Today was typical of a Monday. We don't open to the public but a couple of us go in to prepare food, another volunteer does the daily collection run to pick up surplus goods and  someone else comes to supervise the weekly visit of a  group of Year 7 school children. We usually get them them peeling and chopping vegetables but today we let them put together some pizzas which, when cooked,  they ate with evident enjoyment.  Into the bargain they learn about hygiene and safety in the kitchen and get to know the difference between a parsnip and a swede.
Someone else wandered in to find out what the cafe was all about and promised to return when it was open although she "didn't eat vegetables."
Then this man arrived with a basket of apples for us. John is a local gardener who has kept us supplied with runner beans and windfalls. He's proud of his produce and seems to get pleasure from donating what he can't use. We always thank him warmly and tell him what use we put it to.
A day like this, even without customers,  helps to make us feel that the cafe is a playing a useful part in the community, giving and receiving at one and the same time.

I also wanted to mention that today marks the centenary of Britain's worst coalmining disaster, at Sengenydd in South Wales on October 14th 1913. Please see my earlier blip about it for details.