Martha's Soup Kitchen

Wednesday was our monthly mission to feed the homeless in Birmingham Ciry Centre. It was a cold, wet and windy evening, and after a long day at work all I really wanted was to go home, close the curtains and get warm. But that's when you think. The poeple who visit the soup kitchen, situated beside an NCP carpark, must feel similarly and yet circumstances mean that they don't have this luxury.

My blip features Martha; she has been making soup every month for 20 years. We meet in the church kitchen at 6.30 and she leads us through the process, measuring soup powder; boiling the lentils and making pots and pots of tea to fill the urn. Graham joined us for the first time and was given the unenviable task of stirring the soup. Easy? Yes that's what we used to think! He span the spoon around for 20 mins solid, but still Martha said it was sticking to the bottom! Better come back next month for more practice darling!

As predicted, the weather was a challenge, but the people who benefitted from the food and tea were all the more grateful. I came home, once again, humbled. A chance to remember how lucky we all are. Martha, I salute you!