"Is there anything we can help you with?" asked the homeless person.
"Can you help cut vegetables and prepare tonight's home-cooked meal for the homeless?"
"Actually, I love cooking! I can help!"
In December, we officially launched our Community Care Hub project to serve the needs of local homeless people, providing a rest area, three free meals a night, and hot showers. Despite our experience serving in Hong Kong, we were still nervous about our "first" official local homeless outreach. Over the past month, we've been working hard on outreach. Church members and I not only distributed flyers but also prepared hot drinks and free meals for the homeless, using outreach methods to build relationships with the homeless in Birmingham.
The free meals for the homeless made me the most nervous. When other organizations in the area provide similar services, dozens to hundreds of people often queue up for food. The church currently has only me as the "head chef," and I was very worried about preparation time, taste, and portion sizes. I really wanted to prepare a heartfelt dinner for the homeless, as I believe dinner is particularly important for one's sense of survival. Initially, for convenience, I thought about buying frozen pre-cut vegetables. But a church member advised against it: "Those vegetables have been frozen for a long time. Why not put in the effort to cut fresh vegetables? It will taste better."
A homeless asked me, "What kind of food is this?" "Tomato sauce chicken leg with broccoli rice," I replied. "Is it good?" he asked. "I cooked it myself, so it shouldn't be too bad..." He immediately opened it and started eating. I asked, "Is it good? Is it too salty?" "It's very good," he said. A homeless friend once told me that these types of "free meals" can sometimes be quite unpalatable, often just rice with tomato sauce. I can certainly understand the limitations due to cost constraints. But fortunately, a church member reminded me that food prepared with care is different, and those eating it can feel the difference.
As I, with my limited cooking skills, was doing my best to prepare the meal, a homeless person resting in the church asked:
"Is there anything we can help you with?"
"Can you help cut vegetables and prepare tonight's home-cooked meal for the homeless?"
"Actually, I love cooking! I can help!"
Fortunately, we encountered caring homeless individuals, making our Community Care Hub not just a place for giving, but a space for mutual participation, building a loving community and church that is friendly to the homeless and willing to share. We hope to break the stereotypical image of homeless people: lazy drug addicts (which is quite common in the UK). While this may be true for some homeless individuals, there are also many who are still striving to live and need someone to walk alongside them and support them at certain times in their lives.
"Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:40
We will continue our outreach to connect with the homeless and introduce the gospel to those in need. We need your support. We sincerely ask everyone to contribute together for those in need, putting faith, hope, and love into practice!
👉 This vital project is at risk of closing in 2 months without funding. Donate now: https://avivacommunityfund.co.uk/p/gncecch
👉Community Care Hub ：https://www.englandgnc.uk/community-care-hub
Good Neighbour Church England
(Charity Registration Number: 1195452)
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