This week’s session was a real topsy-turvy one full of surprises, snacks and a serious amount of cheese!

Things started with the "second" delivery turning up before the "first" - an uncharacteristically early arrival just before 10:30am! Then came a huge drop-off from a local school’s Autumn Harvest collection, packed with donated tins and dry goods, as well as the regular bread delivery. By the time the "first" delivery finally rolled in around noon, there was barely any shelf space left! Crates of tinned food had to be stacked and stored for next week. A lovely problem to have.

Among the fresh goods were an abundance of M&S cheese, wafer-thin ham and (of course) more satsumas than anyone knew what to do with. There was plenty of tropical fruit, including two mystery items which were eventually identified as guavas with the help of Google Lens. Between deliveries, the team refuelled with ginger shots and tea to keep spirits high.

Thaiza joined regulars, Martin and Iram, and threw herself straight into the action, becoming a cardboard-crushing, crate-unloading, tin-sorting superstar. It was an unpredictable morning, but was full of cheddar-based cheer!

The Friday Hub did not have the GOATS Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and yes it was on the menu, but the real GOATS today were the Goodgymers as they dug deep as super busy day, regular volunteers missing and less volunteers in some areas. Lunch service was the 2nd shift for the 3 GOATS. Iram went from the parcel section to serving food and going through the kitchen to help clean. Thaiza went from serving Tea and Coffee, followed by helping in the clothing section and then then being in a busy kitchen. Steph Ducat was in the kitchen since 10am cooking/preparing food to then plating food with some washing up too. Todays Menu was Carribean style :

• Vegetable soup(carribean version)
• Curry Goat with rice and peas or plain rice
• Vegetarian curried chick peas with rice
• Baked Chicken
• Fried Dumplings
• Main dishes had a side salad and a portion of coleslaw
• Apple struddle with ice cream

The food went down like a treat and not much left for take way. The team are definately are the GOATS today as we nearly served 190 persons.

Ealing Soup Kitchen is a brilliant charity that looks after vulnerable and homeless people in Ealing. Every Friday, they run a drop-in service at St John’s where guests can enjoy hot meals, free clothes, showers, barbers, games, workshops, and advice.

This week, Thaiza, Steph Ducat, and Iram divided and conquered the tea shift. Thaiza manned the tea and coffee station, keeping cups filled and spirits high, while bravely navigating a plate of mystery biscuits... what looked like chocolate chips turned out to be fruit and milk chocolate in disguise!

Meanwhile, Steph Ducat earned the title of Coleslaw King, helping prepare a delicious dinner of curried goat, baked chicken, and chickpea curry with rice and peas. When the food delivery finally arrived (two hours late!) it was all hands on deck. Iram and the team worked at full speed to portion and pack meals, marking each crate with food items to keep track. There was so much food that the bags were bursting by the end of the shift!