On Thursday 29th September, we shall be climbing Mount Snowdon to raise much needed funds for the Plymouth Soup Run. We have been volunteering with the Sunday Soup kitchen for a number of years and have witnessed first-hand the impact it has on people who find themselves in difficult situations that no one would want to experience.

In addition to food, we provide sleeping bags, blankets, toiletries, emergency clothing and, importantly, a friendly, non-judgemental listening ear. We also signpost people to appropriate services (e.g. housing support, mental and physical health care, financial advice).

Established over 20 years ago, the Plymouth Soup Run provides a lifeline to the city’s most vulnerable people, offering them a welcoming opportunity to enjoy a hot meal, freshly made soup, a sandwich, fruit, cakes and hot drinks.

The Soup Run is currently serving over 90 meals per night on average. For some people, this could be their only meal in the day.

So far this year, the Soup Run has seen a 20% rise in the number of meals provided, reflecting increases in homelessness and financial pressures, even for people in work.

This translates into a similar rise in our costs. All the people involved in the Soup Run are volunteers, and we rely on donations to be able to operate. Cash donations enable us to supplement donations in kind and are particularly appreciated as they allow us to offer enough good quality food to the people who use our service, and meet their most pressing practical needs.

The level of increase in need was highlighted in a recent quote by one of the team leaders: "So many wet, cold shivering and so hungry. We did our best to help but felt very inadequate". Any donations, however modest, will be hugely appreciated and will be put to very good use.

For more information about Plymouth Soup Run or to see the current Wish list please see the links below

https://www.plymouthsouprun.org.uk/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/1NRKFKFS43JO9?ref_=wl_share

Thank you,

Charlie, Em, Hilary, Martha