Our Chef Manager Isla talks to us about the volunteering she’s been doing with the Central London Rough Sleepers Committee which Lexington support through their partnership with the Department of Coffee and Social Affairs.
‘I’ve started getting involved with CLRSC a charity that provides a hot meal and drinks for the homeless around London. Last Saturday I was doing the cooking with help from two lovely volunteers and my husband Ralph who did the pot wash! Lexington and their suppliers support the initiative thorugh donating vegetables, fruit and a homemade dessert every other week. The menu was chilli and rice, lots of vegetables and carrot cake for dessert. There was enough food for 60 guests and 15-20 volunteers. There is a team briefing beforehand from one of the very experienced volunteers.
If you don’t want to cook there’s plenty of other tasks to do to help get ready for the guests arriving for their meal. Bread to cut from a local artisan bakery who donate lots of loaves, setting tables, preparing drinks and serving food. Once the guests arrive they are served hot and cold drinks and we all mingle and chat. The charity believes in treating all the people who come in as guests, and to hear their stories is very humbling.
The volunteers are all amazing and lovely people who just want to help someone in need. A visit to the pub when all the clearing up is finished is a must!’
