NEWCASTLE KITCHEN DIARY

12th August 2012

Trustees:          Carl, Sheila, Elizabeth
Volunteers:       Rebecca, Philip
Visitors:            Philippa

 

Attendance:      87

 

It was an extremely busy kitchen but fortunately we had plenty of food for everyone. There were a lot of new faces again with a high proportion being in the early twenty age bracket. Errol had managed to get to kitchen under his own steam this week, last week the police gave him a chauffeur service to the kitchen!. He keeps getting moved on from his place on the streets and is getting quite frustrated with it. There are always two sides to the argument but we know he is struggling still living on the streets.

 

Lorraine has been back to the kitchen the last two weeks. She is doing ok after the death of her boyfriend. She is still drinking heavily but is a lot quieter than she used to be at the kitchens.

Michael, who has used our services in the past, has been helping the last few weeks with the sorting out of the clothes and some of the tidying up. This has been very useful as we are quite thin on the ground when we have such high numbers.

 

Christian has got a new flat which has just been refurbished by a Housing Association. He needs bits and pieces but is delighted to have his own place. We will see what we can find to take for him next week.

 

David and Lydnsay have got a place in a hostel together. They are much happier although they are still hoping for a place of their own.

Paul was back at the kitchen this week. He was one of the guys who was blue a few weeks ago. He was back to normal colouring this week. His friend Duncan has moved back with his girlfriend to Keswick so he is missing him and finding it lonely on the streets on his own. Paul is an ex serviceman so I am going to take him some numbers of charities that have been set up in the area to help ex service men like him.

 

We had a new guy who is a chef and is going for an interview this week. He has been homeless for 3 weeks but is optimistic he will get a job and some accommodation.

 

As you know I have been unable to walk properly since last November and this looks likely to be the case for the considerable future. I am no longer able to drive a manual car or van and so when Carl is working I have to rely on others. My personal thanks go to those who have helped out immensely in the past 9 months without who it would have been difficult to run the kitchen.

 

As always your prayers are greatly appreciated.

 

Sheila Heron