Not so typical soup kitchen launches

Soup kitchen/food bank at Equip Church, Werribee. Pastor and chief executive Malcolm Macleod with the volunteers in the kitchen. (Damjan Janevski) 287827_01

The team at the Equip Soup Kitchen prides itself on not serving watery and flavourless broth for residents in the municipality wanting a free hot meal.

Instead, locals can expect creamy pumpkin soup, warm butter chicken and flavoursome meat curries.

Equip Church International chief executive Malcolm Macleod the service wouldn’t be a typical grab and go situation.

“When they come, we’re not just going to be giving them some soup in the back of the car park, we’re going to spoil them,” Mr Macleod said.

“They’re going to be in a beautiful cafe, and there’ll be tea and coffees, we’ve got a proper barista and everything.

“There will definitely be relationship, there won’t just be leaving people in the corner somewhere.”

The soup kitchen will run monthly and people can also use the chance to socialise with others and connect with members of the community.

“We’re pretty excited about it because there are real stories, there’s real people and we’re just loving on people and helping them get a hand up,” Mr Macleod said.

Mr Macleod said the soup kitchen initiative wasn’t just about a “one off handout” because the issues people experienced were deeper rooted.

“Whether it has to do with sociological issues, situations where maybe the marriage broke up, abuse, all these things just break your heart,” he said.

The Equip Church also runs a food bank that gives residents access to food parcels.

“It’s just a thrill to help someone who is struggling…it’s one of those things that we’re going to continue to do right into the future,” Mr Macleod said.