Luton soup kitchen serves 120 meals in under 20 minutes

Kian Boyle/BBC A large group of adults and children stand together at night beneath a black canopy labeled “Luton Sikh Soup Kitchen". They face the camera, some wearing hi-vis vests, with a lit Christmas tree and surrounding buildings behind them. — Luton Sikh Soup Kitchen was founded in November 2021

A soup kitchen has handed out 120 food parcels in under 20 minutes.

Luton Sikh Soup Kitchen, a regular fixture outsidethe town hall on Sunday evenings, has served 30,000 hot meals since its launch.

Volunteer Gurch Randhawa, said: “It shows you, sadly, how the cost of living crisis is affecting people.

“In the queue some people are homeless, some in hostels, but actually some have jobs but just don’t have enough money – and that queue was already going halfway down the street before six.”

Gurch Randawa said Luton Sikh Soup Kitchen serves up to 150 hot meals a week

Kian Boyle/BBC A person is standing outdoors at night beneath a canopy, wearing a bright orange reflective safety vest over a thick blue jacket. Around him are other volunteers, some also in reflective gear. — Gurch Randawa said Luton Sikh Soup Kitchen serves up to 150 hot meals a week

He said the hardest part of the evening was packing up while people were still arriving and having to turn them away.

“That’s the challenge that in these winter months you know that a lot of people haven’t had a hot meal all day and we’re their only source of a hot meal on a Sunday,” Mr Randawa said.

Despite the challenges and whatever the weather, the team has never missed a Sunday.

Volunteer Sonia Bains said: “It’s our opportunity to give back to the community. There’s such a need in Luton, and it’s also part of our religion to do selfless service. It feels so fulfilling.”

During the winter months, volunteers such as Sonia Bains distribute sleeping bags, hygiene kits and women’s hygiene products

Kian Boyle/BBC A woman stands under a lit outdoor canopy at night, facing the camera. She wears a dark coat, a purple headscarf, and blue gloves, and smiles calmly. Behind her, volunteers in high-visibility vests work at tables. — During the winter months, volunteers such as Sonia Bains distribute sleeping bags, hygiene kits and women’s hygiene products

“It’s just fantastic what they do, so we just like to help,” said Lynn Bird

Kian Boyle/BBC A woman wearing a yellow hi-vis vest and dark coat stands under a lit canopy at night, facing the camera. Behind her, other volunteers in reflective vests work near a white van. — “It’s just fantastic what they do, so we just like to help,” said Lynn Bird

Lynn Bird, whose employer Thurlow Nunn has supported the cause by providing a van to transport supplies and equipment each week, said it was important “to help and do something”.

“I am a Lutonian, so knowing there’s so many homeless people and you don’t realise till you come down and see it first hand just how many are queuing up,” she said.

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