Monday, 9 December 2013

Starting a Community kitchen



Friends
Even as I was contemplating about the formation of communithy kitchens in neighbourhood townships and towns ,  I accidentally stumbled upon the experiment in running a community kitchen
in Trenton,  US. 

It is the US which spread over the world the fastfood chains , and why not the same US spread this
concept of  community soup kitchens which is rendering  such a good service in fighting poverty.

It is a  great role model for all those who want to start a community kitchen, wherever they want.
The mission is to serve food .  Not necessarily to fight poverty.  It could be just to assist a
haggered houswife to escape  the ordeal of going  home after  8-9  hours of strenous work in office
and  then wear the aprons to start  cooking the dinner for the family. at 7pm.   I am not talking about
a charity operation.   I am talking  of  no profit no loss set up which can provide food to families
minus the  tiresome work for the already tired housewife  in each and every household..

The need is there to run community kitchens in each and every  megacity  where there are middle class  families  with housewives playing the double role of breadwinner and the housemanager.

I was surprised to read the story of  the TASK in US  which is fighting poverty and building lives so very well in  Trenton area  as a purely charitable no profit   venture with volunteers from all walks of  life coming forward to lend their helping hand for the community.   This is indeed a tall order.  Is this a Mission IMPOSSIBLE?  Certainly not . Atleast in Trenton, USA . it has proved tio be a great success. thanks to the dedication and  sacrifices of the volunteers.

If any one has been closely following the concept of   staring a Community kitchen  in their respective countries and wish to start one in their own township as an experiment ,  here is the
link :

http://www.startasoupkitchen.org/about.htm

There is  wealth of information  here.  Inspiration too. . More important is the free download of the book on how to start and run a communithy kitchen as a charity activity . The book is called   "MISSION POSSIBLE".

This is the initiative all the women's welfare clubs, or womens welfare vounteers or womens welfare organisations can grab in their respective  communities in their own  countries.  Help, volunteers, and whatever assistance  needed to start a community kitchen will start pouring.  I am sure of this. There are  many who are  eager and  willing to be part of a  organisation serving a good cause which is socially relevant.

Who is going to be first one to make the inspiring start is the question.  I will be very happy if
the initiative comes from a 3rd world country like India  where there are teeming millions of
middle class population.

Feedbacks are most welcome.  We need to do something on this front friends.

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