For the first such dinner in 2010, we served 22 meals to guests from Portugal, Cape Verde, Mozambique and Angola. This year we served close to 200 meals to guests from not only these countries but also many others, such as Uzbekistan, Algeria, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Brazil, India, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, Germany, Italy, and Holland. As the years have rolled by and our community has become more and more international, the cooks and customers have changed but the intention remains the same: to bring hope and happiness to people less fortunate than we are.

This year the turkey was roasted by Sean, a chef from Canada, while the vegetables were prepared and cooked by Lucy from South Africa with her team of helpers. Among those serving the meals were a team of students from the Nobel School in Lagoa.

Gifts of personal toiletries and money to pay for the meal were donated by All Nations, Carvoeiro and International Christian Fellowship, Portimão; boxes of chocolates were bought by individual customers at the Food Company; Bible portions were donated by friends in UK and Spain; children’s gifts were prepared by Sophie and friends from the Swedish community; packs of milk, biscuits and tuna were bought with individual donations. One gentleman asked that gifts for his 60th birthday be donations specifically for this Christmas meal. So, this event was made possible by the kindness of a huge team of people from many different countries, united in their desire to help others less fortunate.

If you would like to help at the Soup Kitchen in any way, please contact Joy for more information.

Tel: 917 358 098 or borganjoy@gmail.com

Text by Lucy Musk