Recent News
The team working out of Shekinah served around 105 people on Sunday night with pasta Bolognese or various hot pastries, a choice of sandwiches, soup, hot and cold drinks, and snacks. We were joined by #NHS colleagues Justine and Andy offering vaccinations. In all, 12 people had winter flu and 7 had pneumonia vaccinations. We are happy to offer this opportunity to increase the reach of the service to include particularly vulnerable members of our community. The run itelf extends over about 90 minutes, but the commitment of our volunteers is longer: up to 6 hours to include prep/cooking, service and clean up. Thanks to all who helped make it happen.
Huge thanks to everyone who has recently donated items to Plymouth Soup Run from our Amazon Wish List. Most items arrive anonymously but we have a few names, Jack Pickard, APascall. As quite a number of parcels have arrived we wondered if any were linked to Walk for warmth. Lucy and Claire are walking to raise essential items for Plymouth Soup Run. Many thanks.#communitysupport #helpingothers #MakeADifference
It was a busy night with no incidents for the team from ST Paul’s Church Efford. 100 people were served8 sleeping bags, blankets and mats were given out with lots of warm clothing in high demand.Thank you to Ben at Ad Hoc catering for lasagne and pitta bread which was very well received. And thanks to Jo, Nick and the St Paul’s volunteers. #teamwork #sharethelove #communitysupport
We welcomed 31 people into Shekinah this morning. Most had a full English breakfast expertly cooked by our chef Gavin, who also did some prep for tomorrow night's Soup Run meal. With only a skeleton crew of volunteers on duty, we were kept busy and were very grateful for support fromPath DevonDevon colleagues. There was a mix of familiar, not so familiar and completely new faces. One of the latter, a young vulnerable person experiencing a short term housing crisis was provided with practical help and advice to see them through their imediate difficulties and allay their anxieties. Many thanks to all who helped today.
As every Friday Plymouth Christian Centre organised and served on Plymouth Soup Run67 people were served on a pretty chilly but steady, quiet night with no concerns.Earlier in the day the cooks prepared beef & venison cheese burgers, pasta salads (vegetarian),sausages & potatoes, and a tasty sweetcorn chowder soup. There were plenty of sandwiches and snacks too. Also thanks to extras from FareShare South West the team made overnight oat pots for breakfast for those that wanted it.Despite the chilly evening only one sleeping bag was requested; A good steady Friday night 👌#communitysupport #helpingothers
Many thanks to Taylor Wimpey Exeter for supporting Plymouth Soup Run by making a £200 monetary donation to help us continue to provide free food and drinks to those in need.Emma Smith for Taylor Wimpey, Exeter said “We are committed to supporting the communities where we are building and are proud to be supporting Plymouth Soup Run as part of this. The volunteers work tirelessly every day to support people across the city and we are glad to be just a small part of this essential work.”#communitysupport #helpingothers
It was a cold and dry firework night for the Callington Community Soup Run team who were were joined by Ella from Path Devon. The team immediately passed over a referral for a person that had asked for a sleeping bag, was very cold and clearly struggling. Ella was able to direct them to accommodation.82 meals were served.The numbers were down but as the team had prepared food for 120, not knowing whether firework night would bring out more people, George House BCHA benefitted with plenty of hot food and sandwiches. Many thanks to the volunteers from Callington who cross the Tamar to serve on the streets of Plymouth.#communitysupport #MakeADifference #helpandsupport
We are pleased to let our supporters know that we are launching our 2026 Reverse Advent Calendar appeal. The image below provides details of the items that we are requesting to use on nightly runs over the Christmas period, to provide the people we serve with additional winter treats and comforts, and replenish vital stocks for the new year. Details of drop-off arrangements are given in the first comment. We thank everyone who has already asked how they can support us as Christmas approaches, and thank in advance all who will respond to the appeal. We are so grateful for your generosity.
It was a calm, dry and very cold Wednesday evening, with 91 meals served and two sleeping bags given out. Although numbers appeared to be reducing slightly, the team from Mutley Baptist Church went out early so that those waiting could escape the bitterly cold weather. Most people left as soon as they had collected their food.Sadly the team said farewell to Connor Davies, who is relocating to Scotland for work. Thank you, Connor, for your help over the last couple of years. Great to be joined by a new, prospective volunteer who went on the run for the first time. It is always helpful when other services stop by and last night a former volunteer, now a police officer, came to stop 1.Many thanks to Mutley Baptist Church and all their dedicated volunteers.#MakeADifference #communitysupport #MakeADifferenceWritten by Paddy Allen
On Monday Bev led the kitchen team with a team from the The Salvation Army - Plymouth Whitleigh, Ashton, Melody and Jill. Bronia, Gabby and Chris, with a team from MSubs Ltd, served the food. As always on a Monday StreetVet, Plymouth, were out caring for the animals.97 people were served. Thanks to EVERYONE who helped and to The Cornwall Bakery for the pasties. #MakeADifference #teamwork
Tuesday night was “a success” for the team from Plymouth Citybus. One of the business teams that regularly support Plymouth Soup Run.78 people were served with 7 extra meals provided. Two sleeping bags, dog food and lots of gloves and hats were also given out.The team were joined by Darren from the HIPP team, Health Inclusion Partnership Plymouth Livewell Southwest who caught up with people needing some additional support.Many thanks to everyone who helped on Tuesday evening. Great #teamwork #servingourcommunity
A big thank you to Dawn from STORM running who not only gave her time to join our Soup Run team on Sunday night, she also delivered a generous donation of food items from her dad Colin. Such kindness!
It's a sign of the times that we consider serving 94 meals as only "a moderately busy run". Still a lot of hugry people. On the menu we offered a choice of hot items: chicken with new potatoes, mixed vegetables and gravy, pizza, pasties, steak slices, or cheese and onion rolls, a choice of sandwiches, soup, hot drinks, water and snacks. Five sleeping bags and three blankets were given out to rough sleepers. One person was in need of first aid for a cut hand. Several were in need of a listening ear to share their anxieties. Many thanks to the team for their efforts, With some of the older members out of action, we were especially grateful for the effofts of our two 'youngsters' and the STORM running volunteers who join us regularly.
Many thanks to everyone, including Councillor Dr Jack Pickard, who sent items, for Plymouth Soup Run, from our Amazon wish list.Today we received jogging bottoms, PotNoodles and cups and lids. Recently we also received toiletries.Your support is very much appreciated and helps the people we serve each night and on Saturday mornings. #communitysupport #MakeADifference #helpingothers
Many thanks to the team from Plymstock United Church for serving on Plymouth Soup Run on Saturday.Although the evening felt quieter by the end of the night 90 meals had been served. 2 blankets, some clothes and toiletries were also given out. 1 person was advised to contact Plymouth City Council Out of Hours. Many thanks to all the team and to the Arts University Plymouth for the donation of sandwiches. #teamwork #serve the community #MakeADifference
Thirty two people joined us at Shekinah for the Saturday morning volunteer-led session for rough sleepers and people in emergency accommodation. Nicky and the kitchen team did a great job preparing and serving full English breakfasts, and the other volunteerss managed reception and showers, provided replacement clothing and had those all important conversations with people who wanted advice, signposting or simply the chance to chat. The garden provided a welcome overflow space for 'catching some rays'. Two former clients now well settled into their own accommodation dropped by to say 'hello' - a welcome reminder that change can happen. Many thanks to all who helped today.
Friday was a very settled, quiet evening. Mayflower Street felt busy but only because everyone was waiting when the team arrived.Overall 68 people were served. Plymouth Christian Centre had catered for plenty more so George House BCHA was given a generous pile of piping hot food and sandwiches. The PCC Cooks did well. FareShare South West were generous so the volunteers prepared a lot: Pizza with Potatoes and Beans, Pasties, Chicken Nuggets with Potatoes and Beans too. There were Cheese & Ham butties with snacks & crisps plus a delicious Chicken & veg soup. There was an abundance of bananas as 4x crates weredonated on Friday.Two sleeping bags were given out together with some blankets. There were requests for clothing and toiletries as available.Huge thanks to Plymouth Christian Centre and all their volunteers for their hard work preparing, collecting, and serving the food every Friday. Not to mention all the washing up!!#sharethelove #MakeADifference #communitysupport
Many thanks to all the families and staff at Busy Bees Childcare for their wonderful harvest donations to Plymouth Soup Run.Everything received will be used to help the people that we serve when we are out on the Run. #communitysupport #helpingothers #MakeADifference
It continues to be tricky to know how many people to cater for each night with numbers fluctuating between 65, and then last night, Thursday, back up to 102 meals served. 2 sleeping bags were also given out. Many thanks to the team from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Plymouth for serving on Plymouth Soup Run every 5 weeks.
On Thursday, it was a pleasure to talk about Plymouth Soup Run, to the KOBS group, Knocking On A Bit, at Morice Baptist Church. It was also great to meet Shirley and Brian who started the Soup Run in Plymouth, serving out of the Salvation Army in the winter of 1979 / 80. At that time the run went to 2 stops, one being the wedding cake, where we still go.Many, many thanks for the generous donation you made towards the soup run. The money will be used to provide food for the people of Plymouth we serve when out on the Run.
