Recent News
Every night continues to be busy. On Monday the Plymouth Soup Run team coordinated by Hope Baptist Church served 122 people and gave out 3 sleeping bags and some clothes. Bev led the kitchen team and a team from Nando's Plymouth served at the 4 stops with the help of Ben, Kath and Gabby. The StreetVet volunteers joined the Run, as they do every Monday, offering help and support as needed with people’s animals. Many thanks to EVERYONE for their help.#teamwork #communitysupport #MakeADifference
The team operating out of Shekinah had a very busy run on Sunday night. We served 145 meals in total, 95 at the first stop alone! The food just lasted, with some dipping into emergency supplies at the final stop. (It was similarly busy on Saturday when the team from St Paul’s Church Efford served 140 meals, bringing the two-night total to 285). Thanks to Charlie for preparing a delicious meal of meatballs, mixed veg and potatoes in onion and tomato gravy (with a Quorn option for vegetarians). In addition we offered a choice of sandwiches, snacks, water, fruit, soup and hot drinks. The team was made up of core members plus 5 volunteers from STORM running who provide great support fortnightly. Dawn D (and dad Colin) and Dawn C kindly donated food that will help provision next week’s and other future runs. A big thank you to everyone who contributed to a successful night.
At this morning’s rough sleeper session at Shekinah, we welcomed 32 people in for breakfast. All tucked into a full English and most had a packed lunch to take away. Six had a shower. Overall, it was a pleasant and peaceful morning but a few people were anxious about their mental and physical health, and benefited from talking to volunteers who listened and signposted them to sources of help. Details of those new to rough sleeping were passed to the Path Devon Rough Sleeper Team. A big thank you to the relatively small team who were kept more busy than usual.
Once again on Friday the Plymouth Christian Centre cooks were busy preparing the food for Plymouth Soup Run.On the menu, was a Mediterranean soup, cheese/ ham & cheese sandwiches & a few snacks. But there was a mountain of pasties and sausage rolls to complement the meal. Also peaches and melon. A big thank you to FareShare South West. The team over catered but were generous at each stop. The surplus food went to George House BCHA.92 people were served and 3 sleeping bags were given out.A very good night. .Many thanks to everyone who helps on a Friday night.#teamwork #communitysupport #helpingothers
Thursday evening was dry to start off with for the volunteers from Plymouth Mayflower Rotary Club but steady, drizzling rain for the three later stops. On the Hoe the team received an unexpected donation of the remains of a buffet from Wesley Methodist Church which was distributed as extras.105 meals were served. The team were joined by a man from the Argyle squad plus a staff member who helped during the evening. 1 sleeping bag and lots of clothes were given out. Many thanks to Plymouth Mayflower Rotary club for continuing to support Plymouth Soup Run.#communitysupport #teamwork
Food, sleeping bags and clothes were all given out by the team from Mutley Baptist Church on Wednesday. As always now the first stop was very busy so a decision was made NOT to give out 2nd bags for family members as there is always a risk the team will run out of food by the last stop. 3 sleeping bags, a blanket, lots of clothes and toiletries were given out. When numbers are high and volunteers are busy serving food it would be really helpful if people could wait patiently. Many thanks to Mutley Baptist Church and their team of volunteers for serving every week on Plymouth Soup Run
Tuesday was another busy night on Plymouth Soup Run with just over 100 people served.This time it was a team from Obedair who provided and served the food. The team were so busy that they had to buy extra supplies and top up the soup flasks, before the final stop .4 sleeping bags, toiletries, Pot Noodles and porridge pots were also given out.Many thanks to Obedair and all their volunteers for continuing to support Plymouth soup run. Thanks to #charlieede for all his support in the kitchen and to Sally from the Saint Paul’s team, Efford and to Simone from the HIPP team Livewell Southwest who also joined the team offering advice and support#teamwork #communitysupport #helpingothers
106 people were served on Monday and 2 sleeping bags were given out. Loraine, Jess, Louie and the Salvation Army team prepared the food while Richard, Michael, Stephen, with dockyards friends, served the food. Dark nights are back but it was still quite warm. Rain was forecast but it held off most of the evening. There was a lot of thanks given and appreciation for what we do.Many thanks to everyone who helped both preparing and serving the food. And to StreetVet Plymouth who were out on the Run as they are every Monday.
The team working out of Shekinah had a busy but calm evening on the Sunday run. We served 130 meals with a choice of chicken and tomato pasta, sausage rolls, cheese and onion rolls, or delicious home-made curry kindly donated by a supporter. There was a mix of regular faces, some new ones and a few not seen for quite a while, only coming to the run because of temporary need. One or two were in a low mood and needing to talk. Two people were given advice about getting medical attention and two others were signposted to StreetVet volunteers who will be joining the team tonight. Four people were given sleeping bags including some new rough sleepers who were advised by a volunteer from Path Devon. Thanks to all the team for their hard work that ensured a smooth-running evening. Most are shown here but a couple managed to swerve the photo ops!
Saturday night was very busy for the team from Plymstock United Church, especially at the first stop, with 119 people served. As well as food the team gave out 2 sleeping bags, 2 mens’s coats, some leggings and a top. Earlier in the day an e mail was received from Fruity Roots Ltd offering some fruit and vegetables. The team popped down and were absolutely delighted with the donation. It included jacket potatoes, peppers, onions, and lots of fruit. A huge thank you to Fruity Roots and to all last night’s team.#communitysupport #MakeADifference #teamwork
We welcomed 36 people to the rough sleeper session at Shekinah this morning. Most had a cooked breakfast and packed lunch. There was a relatively high level of need but it was a generally calm morning, helped by the pleasent weather that made the garden a popular place to be. It was good to see two people whom we supported to get hospital treatment for serious infections last Saturday. Both were on the mend but an additional person was advised to get treatment for a similar infection today. Seven people had showers and seven were treated by the podiatrist Jo from Forgotten Feet - Helping Homeless Feet/University of Plymouth. A big thank you to all who helped. Each session involves a lot of inputs from shopping, to staffing reception, cooking, serving, chatting and signposting, managing the shower and podiatry rotas, delivering footcare, providing clothes, and cleaning. Teamwork at its best!
Once again just over 100 people were served on Friday by the team from Plymouth Christian Centre. As always on a Friday afternoon the team of cooks were busy in the kitchen preparing pasta with a herby tomato sauce and cheese, lentil and vegetable soup and lots of sandwiches. Dave and Alana pealed 72 boiled eggs to make the egg mayonnaise filling for some of the sandwiches! Ham and cheese was the other option. Huge thanks to everyone for their help. A great team effort. #communitysupport #helpingothers
On Thursday a team from Lions Club of Plymouth CIO were out on Plymouth Soup Run and were joined by Natalie and Olivia from Lang & Co Estate Agents LTD. It was another busy night with 91 people served. Many thanks to everyone who helped and to FareShare South West for some of the food. #communitysupport #helpingothers #teamwork
Busy is definitely the word to describe Plymouth Soup Run at the moment. On Wednesday the team from Mutley Baptist Church served 126 people. The first stop was incredibly busy, stops two and three were quieter, with stop four also busy.As well as food the team gave out 2 sleeping bags and a blanket. There were lots of requests for joggers and leggings.Sadly one couple were so hungry, having been to stop one, they then walked to stop four to see if there was any more food available. Many thanks to everyone who helped last night, collecting, preparing the food and serving on the run. #helpingothers #communitysupport
Tuesday was a calm, dry, warm but very busy evening for the team from St Matts Plymouth especially at the first stop.During the night 96 people were served. As the team had prepared food for 105 people, at the last stop they were able to give out some extras.On the menu was cheesy pasta, jacket potatoes, sandwiches, strawberries, homemade soup, hot drinks and snacks.4 sleeping bags were given out.There were several requests for clothes.It is always good to talk to people and hear about their lives and the challenges they face. At the last stop one person explained the challenges of moving from the streets into accommodation and the isolation they sometimes feel.Many thanks to St Matts and all their volunteers for serving fortnightly on the streets of Plymouth.#MakeADifference #helpingothers #teamwork
Huge thanks to everyone who gave up their Bank Holiday to serve on Plymouth Soup Run. It was a very busy evening with 137 people served. 4 sleeping bags were given out plus some items of clothing.In the kitchen Vicky and Holly lead a team of 'individuals' (thank you Dockyard friends for offering to cover if needed)Mary, Will, Mark, Max, Claire were on the BUS driven and led by Ben. The Prayer Pastors were Richard and Alex who had some very meaningful conversations with people. As always on a Monday StreetVet, Plymouth joined the run offering support with people’s animals.Thanks to everyone who helped and thanks to Ivor Dewdney and Ginsters for the pasties. #teamwork #communitysupport
The rain came pouring down and the wind was gusty while the Sunday team, together with STORM running, were serving at MayflowerStreet. Everyone was soaked through but still people arrived for food. 104 people were served during the evening so a slightly quieter evening with plenty of food for all. French Onion soup, a selection of pasties, Chicken Kiev and Chicken Bites were all available with a choice of 4 types of sandwiches, melon and oranges. Many thanks to FareShare South West for most of the food. Once again we were pleased to be joined by 6 volunteers from Storm Running who helped with the smooth running of the evening. We were also pleased to welcome Adam Valentine Wilson who did his first shift in the kitchen alongside Debbie.Many thanks to EVERYONE who helped both front and back of house. #teamwork #communitysupport
For the 2nd time in 3 days a team crossed the Tamar to serve on Plymouth Soup Run. This time from the Lighthouse Community Centre CIC. It was another busy night with approximately 98 people served and by the end of the evening almost all the food and soup had gone. 3 sleeping bags were also given out. Many thanks to all the team and to Plymouth Methodist Central Hall for the use of their kitchen. #MakeADifference #helpingothers
Not surprisingly, with the rain pouring down, Plymouth Soup Run volunteers were busy at Shekinah on Saturday morning with quite a few people waiting outside for us to open. During the morning 33 people joined us with most having breakfast and 10 people having a shower. There were lots of requests for dry clothes and sleeping bags. 2 people were advised to seek medical attention sooner rather than later.Today, we welcomed Laura who did her first shift cooking breakfast, ably supported by Nikki. Many thanks to all our volunteers who helped on a very busy morning. #communitysupport #helpingothers
Mutley Baptist Church is so grateful to the congregations of Our Lady of Lourdes and Holy Family for continuing to support Plymouth Soup Run with donations of food and other goodies!#communitysupport #helpingothers
