MDXSU host campus Community Kitchen for local homeless people

Monday 10-10-2016 - 17:00
Kitchen article

On Saturday 8 October, Middlesex Students' Union held our first on-campus Community Kitchen for local people in need.

 

The MDX Home Community Kitchen was held in MDX House and provided hot food, medical advice, clothing and textile donations, and a safe, warm place to relax and chat.

 

The idea to establish an on-campus Community Kitchen came from MDXSU Vice Presidents Orla Hillary and Joe Cox, who wanted to support local people facing hardship, and enable students to contribute to the local community.

 

Speaking after the event, Orla said, “While the hot food and clothing were gratefully received, it was clear that people really valued the welcoming and friendly environment and space to just hang out.

 

“I hugged one of the guests goodbye and he was really surprised and touched by the gesture. It really hit home just how appreciated a friendly face is to those who are experiencing homelessness or even just loneliness and segregation, and the importance of the MDXSU Community Kitchen in bringing people together.”

 

Helping Orla and Joe to organise and host the event were MDXSU interns Poppy Heap, Hannah Lambe and Lauren Smith, alongside over thirty Middlesex University student, staff and alumni volunteers who gave up their time to help the local community.

 

Food was served 10am – 3pm, made possible with generous donations from several local restaurants and supermarkets, including an irish stew from The Claddagh Ring, food produce from Tesco, Co-Op and Way 2 Save, and baked goods from Mr Baker and the Hendon Bagel Bakery.

 

Donations of warm clothing, shoes and sleeping bags were also available, while Su Everett - Senior Lecturer in Sexual Health at Middlesex University - and Sophie Molloy were on hand to provide medical advice.

 

Joe, MDXSU Vice President Art & Design and Media & Performing Arts, said, “One of the highlights of the event for me was speaking to a guest who was recently forced to move from Edinburgh to London, losing many of his possessions in the process.

 

“Thanks to people’s generous donations, he was able to pick up a coat, a backpack and a sleeping bag, and it was great to hear of his ambitions to study music and business, and how he felt encouraged to register for a course at our very own Middlesex University!”

 

The Community Kitchen is part of a wider programme of community initiatives by Middlesex Students' Union, including our successful campaign to resettle fifty Syrian refugees in our local borough last year, and our new Community Placements - paid work opportunities which allow students to develop their skills and knowledge for the benefit of local organisations.

 

The #MDXHome Community Kitchen will take place on the first Saturday of each month, with the next event scheduled for Saturday 5 November.

 

If you would like to volunteer at the next event - whether through cooking and serving food or lending specialist expertise such as legal knowledge or hairdressing - please contact Joe or Orla at j.l.cox@mdx.ac.uk and o.hillary@mdx.ac.uk

 

Even if you are unable to volunteer, food and clothing donations will be gratefully received. Middlesex Students' Union are hoping to install a permanent clothes bank on campus in the near future, though in the interrim please contact Joe or Orla.

 

Joe and Orla would like to thank all those who donated food, as well as huge thanks to all the work by our interns and volunteers through outreach and on the day itself.

 

Alongside the tasty food and great facilities, the guests were truly appreciative of the welcoming atmosphere and postive, friendly attitude of everyone involved, which wouldn't have been possible without the incredible volunteers who helped out on the day.

 

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