NEWCASTLE KITCHEN DIARY

14th August 2011

 Trustees:        Carl, Sheila,

Volunteers:      Wendy, Richard, Rebecca

Visitors:           Ruth, Kevin, Jim, Janet,

 

Attendance:      66

 

It was a very busy kitchen and I was unable to circulate as much as I usually would with so few volunteers. Many of the regulars were missing this week.

 

Keith didn’t get to Torquay as the council contacted him to say they were planning on doing repair work to his flat.

 

Phil brought some of the hot dogs and buns that had been left over from the “People’s Kitchen”. We asked him to pass on our thanks and it is good to see that they appear to have accepted the work we are doing on a Sunday evening. We have not worked out whether Phil is a volunteer at the “People’s Kitchen” or someone who attends. He is very sensible and has no addictions.

 

Greg had a good chat with Carl about his attempts to reduce his alcohol intake. He tried to stop completely but this made him ill so he is cutting down gradually now.

 

Lisa has an appointment on Wednesday with the housing department to see if she and the children can be re-housed. Nicky had been baking and brought me a butterfly cake. Some of the pictures the children have drawn for us can be viewed here.

 

Lee is still doing well and is managing in his flat.

 

Lyndsey and her boyfriend were new to the kitchen. They tried to kick off at the beginning by asking for takeaways because they were on curfews. I explained that we gave no takeaways until 8.30 and they would have to wait. They then began to have a go at the fact that they were genuinely homeless (didn’t quite fit in with the curfew!) and most at the kitchen weren’t. I explained that we didn’t differentiate and that any who had a need would be served. Remarkably at this point Lorraine, who only a few months ago would have joined in, stepped to our defence and told them to appreciate what we did because we went out of our way to help when we could. They soon calmed down and stayed the whole kitchen. Thankfully these situations are few and far between.

 

Clare got annoyed that she had arrived too late for the food parcels that Kevin and Ruth bring and so left so as not to cause upset. Again a few months ago she would just have stayed and shouted but it is good to see that she respects the kitchen.

 

As always your prayers for the work in general are greatly appreciated.

 

Sheila Heron