Community Meals

Every second Wednesday from 4:30- 7pm we serve an evening meal to the homeless and marginalised in Croydon. Often there can be up to 40 people in varying stages of need; some need belonging, some need to talk, others need a friend but they all need food. At New Community Care we understand that all people have basic needs and we want to provide for these needs so people can begin to thrive. Food is one of the basic needs of a person but it's also where a sense of dignity can begin - 'when you feel full you feel like you can function and think straight.' But conversation around food also demonstrates value and acceptance and we really want to demonstrate to people that even though life is tough they have a friend and that friend models both acceptance of who they are as a person and that they have a place to belong at the table. So while we may put on a lovely meal each fortnight what happens around the table as we serve and as we talk does so much more than fill an empty stomach.  

One of our volunteers said - 'the more I read the Bible I see Jesus felt comfortable with the ones on the margins, caring for people who don't have families, feeding the hungry'...... They matter! The home cooked meals, the time and effort that goes into this says to them (the participants) someone cares even when they don't know who that someone is. But they feel noticed, valuable and that they matter because we are here.

Another said 'for me its about giving something positive back when all Ive done is ripped off society for many years'