Recent News
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.
A Wednesday night on Plymouth Soup Run can only mean one thing, a team from Mutley Baptist Church will be out on the run. Last night the team served 89 meals and gave out 4 sleeping bags and some clothing items. Ladies jumpers and socks are needed if anyone can help.It was a calm good natured night. With the change in weather, the number of people teams are currently seeing seems to be slightly less now.As every night people rough sleeping were encouraged to go to Shekinah in the morning and engage with services .Many thanks to Mutley Baptist church for supporting Plymouth Soup Run and serving the community 52 weeks of the year.#sharethelove #MakeADifference #EndRoughSleeping
On Tuesday the team from St Matts Plymouth had a smaller prep team so planned a simpler menu with steak slices and beans, or pizza with jacket potato. There were 3 choices of sandwiches. Also yoghurt from FareShare South West which was popular.It was a much quieter night with 63 meals served including a few doubles.At the end of the evening the remaining food wa taken to George House BCHA.3 sleeping bags were given out.Many thanks to everyone who helped both front and back of house. #communitysupport #MakeADifference #sharethelove
On Monday Dockyard’s friends prepared the food with Steph and Sammy while the “individuals” team served out on Plymouth Soup Run with Alex, Gabby and Ben. As always on a Monday, StreetVet Plymouth, volunteers were out too. 105 people were served with 2 sleeping bags given out. Many thanks to everyone who helped and to Hope Baptist Church for co ordinating the Run every Monday.#MakeADifference #sharethelove #helpingothers
On Sunday the team from St Paul’s Church Efford were joined by the flu vaccination team #Devonoutreachvaccinationteam.It was a busy night at all of the stops with a lot of hungry, cold folk needing a lot of support.About 10 sleeping bags were given out and a lot of warm clothing.There were about 22 people at Kings Road, with plenty of food left but then a row ensued between 2 people. It got very nasty and, as punches were thrown, so the decision was taken to leave.Everyone at this stop had a bag of food but half didn't get hot food or drinks because the team had to leave quickly. Sadly the behaviour of 2 people impacted on the other people attending the stop.The safety of all our volunteers is of paramount importance.All the spare food was taken to George House BCHA.Many thanks to everybody who helped on Sunday evening, preparing the food, serving the food, clearing up and to the outreach vaccination team who will be out again on Sunday 8th November and Sunday 22nd November. #communitysupport #MakeADifference #fluseason
It was an eerily quiet first stop. The volunteers from Plymouth Methodist Central Hall and St Peter & the Holy Apostles, Plymouth started serving at 8:30pm to avoid people queuing in the wind and rain and served from inside the church. The team stayed at the first stop until 9.20 p.m. but the number of service users was low. Whilst it was good people kept out of the bad weather there was concern some may have been hungry. 59 people were served and as the team had catered for 100 + everyone at the last 2 stops was given 2 bags each.The remaining food was taken to George House BCHA.2 sleeping bags, clothes, especially coats, gloves, socks and jackets were given out.Many people were very cold and wet. 1 of the team gave his own coat away to help someone. The recipient was so grateful and hugs abounded. Many thanks to the ALL the team on another very stormy night. #sharethelove #helpingothers #communitysupport #teamwork
Saturday brought some really hostile weather for our morning session at Shekinah. Despite that, 25 people who are rough sleeping or in emergency accommodation walked to the centre and came in for breakfast. Several had a shower and replaced wet with dry clothing. The opportunity to relax inside for a couple of hours before facing the weather again was clearly welcome. And we had the pleasure of some fine guitar playing in the background. As well as mostly familiar faces, we saw some new ones including two vulnerable young people whom we did our best to connect with support. Thanks to Gavin leading in the kitchen, and to our other volunteers and colleagues from Path Devon.
The team from Plymouth Christian Centre had a good night on Friday. A calm night, without incident. The storm had passed but the rough sleepers certainly looked like they had had a rough night previously with some very tired faces.83 people were served during the evening. PCC Cooks knocked out a variety of choices with Pizza, Pie and beans, Baked potato with beans and cheese, and a vegetable soup. There were plenty of snacks too. A big thank you to FareShare South West for the extra items they shared this week.The team also distributed a huge donation of bread from the Sainsbury's039;s bakery team.3 sleeping bags and 3 blankets were given out.2 people in need of extra support were encouraged to go to Shekinah on Saturday a.m. Many thanks to All the volunteers from Plymouth Christian Centre for ensuPlymouth Soup Runp Run serves the community every Friday nig#teamworkm#MakeADifferencer#sharetheloveelove
Storm Austen did not keep people away from Plymouth Soup Run on Thursday evening when 70+ people were served by a team from #SamworthBrothers and Callington Lions. On the menu was chicken & leek soup, pasties and slices from Ginsters plus sandwiches and snack bags. Terrible conditions everywhere. People were extremely wet. The team were joined by a staff member from Path Devon who signposted some people to a warm bed. All the remaining food was taken to George House BCHA.Many thanks to all the team for serving in such dreadful weather. #communitysupport #MakeADifferenc #helpingothers
It was a busy, calm evening for the team from Mutley Baptist Church with a total of 101 meals served.As usual stop 1 was the busiest with 73 meals served and 4 sleeping bags given out.The soup ran out early on but there was plenty of other food and hot drinks.Lots of people wanted to chat and there were quite a few new faces, with a noticeably higher proportion of younger people. Lots of warm clothing, blankets and toiletries were given out. Quite a few people are sleeping rough despite the awful weather.Several people were signposted to extra help, which hopefully they will take up.Thank you to Tesco, Mutley Plain for a very generous donation including several pre made sandwiches.#communitysupport #helpingothers #MakeADifference
Many thanks to everyone at Lipson Vale Primary School for their generous Harvest donations. All the items received will support the people Plymouth Soup Run serve every night of the year. #communitysupport #MakeADifference #helpingothers
