Monday night is curry night for asylum seekers and those housed by the council in a hotel in Summertown, Oxford.
St Michael’s and All Angels church set up the weekly hot meal service after Oxford City Council approached them and asked for support. The people accommodated at the nearby EasyHotel have no access to kitchen facilities and are therefore reliant on more expensive convenience foods. The church, which established a popular Ukrainian Friendship Centre on Wednesdays, stepped in to help.
Michael Taylor, PCC member and project leader, said: “The people who have come along are very friendly. We`ve had lots of chats and laughter. We hope they find a bit of comfort in a warm meal and some friendly faces.
“The project is a good example of the church working with the community (by no means all the volunteers come to church) especially for the benefit of the most vulnerable.”
The council has provided the funding for a chef to cook the meals. The food is free and comes from a food hub on the Botley Road. Volunteers from the church help to prepare the food and serve it and also welcome visitors to enjoy the meals.
Explore how your church could reach into the local community.