Community Kitchen celebrates second anniversary

The aim of the Community Kitchen is to build community around a shared meal. Since the Community Kitchen first started in April 2017, it has run 35 sessions.

The Rector of Blandford Forum, Canon Jonathan Triffitt said:
"The Community Kitchen is truly intergenerational and crosses all social barriers and is supported by a strong network of volunteers from Blandford Parish Church, All Saints Langton Long and 6th Form Students from The Blandford School.

"When we first thought about running the Community Kitchen, we were struck by the number of stories we were hearing locally and nationally about families going hungry during the school holidays. This was heart-breaking and so the Community Kitchen became a vehicle through which we could address the holiday hunger gap within our community.

"Since then it has grown to be much more than simply feeding families during the school holidays. It has become a source of family, community and friendship a place where people feel a sense of belonging and welcome without judgement, explanation or fear. Our values as a church are expectant faith, joy-filled hope and generous love, and it is our hope and prayer that through the Community Kitchen we can demonstrate these values to those whom we welcome and serve."

As well as the standard Community Kitchen, which usually runs during the school holidays, the church has also run a number of additional sessions of Stay & Play, Home-made Christmas, Pancake Drop-In and Easter/ Spring Crafts.

Future plans include a Big Breakfast on Sunday 19 May and a Community Kitchen BBQ in June. There is also a 'Give Away Table' with clothes, toys, food, books etc all of which help to make a difference to those in need.

Canon Triffitt says: "It’s fantastic the way in which the Community Kitchen has caught people’s imagination. We are really thankful for all who have supported this initiative whether they are volunteers, guests, local business and of course the Parish Church, whose commitment to this work enables us to offer all meals free of charge to everyone who comes."