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Almost half of those who reach out for help from LIFE Community Kitchens find it’s not just the meals that are warm, so too is the company, a recent survey reveals.
“Every year when we do a survey, we ask what people come to us for,” the organisation’s Rebecca So’e says. “In the last three years, 45 per cent say they come for a connection with other people.
“So, our kitchens not only meet a physical need but also social and emotional ones as well – people want to come along so that they can connect with each other and spend time together.”
Established 10 years ago, originally based in Otara, LIFE Community Kitchens now operates 10 locations across Auckland including Papakura.
The initiative was designed to address a growing need as families struggled to put food on their tables; however, it was also intended to provide safe spaces where people feel welcome.
“When someone comes to a LIFE Community Kitchen, they get a hot meal and a dessert with a hot or cold drink,” So’e adds. “A lot of people appreciate that, especially if they have young children.”
The Papakura kitchen (at Papakura Marae) is currently undergoing renovations, but it is still providing takeaway meals until the work is complete.
In the meantime, the nearby Manurewa kitchen is helping feed the need for good company.
Visit www.lifecommunity.org.nz for more information.
