Earlier this year, the Pop Up Soup Kitchen (PUSK) took delivery of a Tesco delivery van – aimed to help them feed the Isle of Wight’s homeless.
During the summer and autumn the van was fitted out with its own generator and a fully functioning removable ‘mini kitchen’.
These modifications were only possible due to funding made available by the Island’s Labour Party Leader, Richard Quigley.
Also helping those in the grip of fuel poverty
Trevor Blaney from the PUSK had explained,
“It was the view of the founders and advisors of the Soup Kitchen, that because of the huge increases in fuel costs that we needed to go out into the community and assist once more, and try to help not only the Island’s homeless, but also those less fortunate and in the grip of fuel poverty.
“Foodbanks that provide responsibly are great for some, but what’s the point of giving all the food in the world away if you’ve not got the money to cook it!
“People are going hungry out there, in their own homes, choosing between heat or food ….. and this is the only way we could think to help.”
The van is capable of heating any type of food from soup and hot drinks to baking pizzas, it is stocked with the usual hats, scarves, gloves, blankets and thermos flasks and has charging ports and even a WiFi hotspot.
It’s free for anyone
Trev went on to say,
“Over the past seven years we have forged some amazing relationships with the Island’s supermarkets and businesses and together we aim to step up yet again and help those of the Island’s Community in need as the present cost of living crisis worsens.
“We will operate the same way we did at 67a our Waste Food Restaurant, and have a donation box on the side of our truck.
“However, quite honestly I don’t care if those in need put buttons in the box as long as they have food in their tummies.”
Thanks to supporters
The Pop Up Soup Kitchen wishes to thank Richard Quigley, Gemma Torrington and Janet Holiday of Newport Minster for their cooperation in providing a site to Pop Up at.
Wednesday night saw the launch of the service when they popped up in front of the Minster in St Thomas’s Square Newport.
