Page 7 - Demo

7Foreword: Andrea Bell, Sunderland Community Soup KitchenThe Sunderland Community Soup Kitchen was established in 2019, based in the heart of Sunderland. Our aim is to combat hunger and food poverty, supporting individuals and families to ensure that no one is without food. We believe that food brings people together. Sharing a simple %u2018hello%u2019 and making people important is our ethos. The %u2018Soupie%u2019 currently caters for 100 people, 4 days a week, providing a delicious homestyle cooked main meals and desserts on 3 of the days and a light meal each Sunday. And we open every Christmas Day because many of our guests live in isolation and on low budgets. It%u2019s a very special day.Our incredible team work tirelessly to ensure our meals are well planned and tasty. That includes growing the produce - we have 2 allotments growing organic food as well as rescue ducks and quails. Lots of our menus are based around recipes in The Mackem Cewkbewk. Everyone loves them, especially in the cold winter months. And we%u2019re %u2018more than just a soup kitchen%u2019, going beyond food to support rough sleepers with emergency supplies, tents and sleeping bags. In our next chapter, we plan to help people budget their money. I%u2019m prouder than proud of what we achieve each day.Sadly, donations have massively reduced since the pandemic and rising costs of living have put on a further squeeze. So our next steps are to have revenue schemes to help us to self sustain and secure our future. Watch this space for those.This Cewkbewk has brought together people who want to make a difference to people%u2019s lives and we thank you for buying it with all our hearts. To Paul, we want to say thank you for your expertise and time given to create this book. We hope that it%u2019s in every Mackem%u2019s kitchen going forward, reminding us that with a bit of guidance, tasty recipes can be created and enjoyed by all - recipes many of us grew up on! Enjoy the pleasure of this brilliant book, created with love to help and support our local community. Love Andrea BellFounder of Sunderland Community Soup Kitchen With thanks to my sister Gillian. Supporting my madness and behind me every step. My hero in life - the quiet one, but one of life%u2019s amazing people.07