Each month the team at DASH support The Soup Kitchen on Tottenham Court Road in London, by helping to cook and hand out free meals to those in need.  

The Soup Kitchen is an amazing charity which has been running since 1986, providing a critical resource for homeless, elderly, lonely and vulnerable Londoners to get a nourishing meal in a friendly environment. Welcoming nearly 150 people per day 5 days a week, they cook up ingredients usually donated by nearby restaurants and supermarkets, that would otherwise have gone to waste. They also provide toiletries and clothing when available. Recently The Soup Kitchen has also launched an on-site mental health drop-in centre to address the guests’ mental health needs.

At the moment they are seeing record numbers of men and women, old and young, in and out of work coming to them for support. During the pandemic the number of guests skyrocketed as they were one of the only(?) organisations feeding the homeless and vulnerable. Despite large amounts of funding disappearing at the same time, they have served over 100,000 meals since March 2020!

The team doesn't know what supplies they will be working with each day, but do a fantastic job of providing the best meal they can with what they’re given. The support of local businesses is crucial to their survival, whether that’s providing volunteers, surplus food or financial support. Alongside volunteering, we send regular DASH donations to help keep visitors hydrated, donating 7,500 cans so far this year. It’s just a drop in the ocean compared to the scale of the problem, but we feel humbled to be able to support such a brilliant and invaluable organisation.

Click here to find out how you can help.