Volunteer with Soup Run Soc!
Imperial’s Soup Run Society supports the Children of Adam Soup Kitchen, a charity that hosts a food drive every Sunday in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, near Holborn station. I’ve been meaning to volunteer for the longest time, yet never made enough effort to sign up. After meeting committee members at IC Hack, I took it as a sign to volunteer. So I did!
The soup kitchen was set up by the family of a man who was homeless for some time and later died at the age of 25. His family wanted to support the homeless community in his memory.CoA Soup Kitchen has a thought-provoking story behind its name: it was initiated 15 years ago, and its name emphasizes that regardless of our beliefs and upbringings, we all come from Adam – essentially, we are all of the same background. It is worth remembering, because living in an environment as privileged as Imperial and South Kensington, we can become desensitized and forget to show people support and treat them with dignity.
CoA Soup Kitchen has some regulars who very swiftly and systematically arrange the tables of food gathered from nearby markets and supporters in Holborn. However, they are always open to more donations and supporters. London weather is dreadful, and even more so to people seeking shelter. We, as volunteers, had to be outside for only a couple of hours whereas the guests, who reach over 110 people, have to face the weather and the cold all the time and CoA is open for donations and support.
CoA builds a community among volunteers and with guests as well. Although it was a rainy Sunday, I didn’t realise how fast the time went by and I’ll volunteer again. Commitment to volunteering is dependent on your availability and flexibility. The process is very simple, all you have to do is join the Soup Run community and sign up for shifts. There is a committee member to take you from Holborn station to the CoA tables at Lincoln’s Inn Fields and everyone is super friendly and helpful to new volunteers. Even if the Soup Run Society is not going on a specific day, you can contact @coa_soupkitchen on Instagram and express your interest in
