Free, nourishing sit-down meals for anyone who needs them isn’t just about providing nutrition and shelter. It serves as a beacon for hospitality premised on dignity, solidarity, and connection.
In this episode, we are joined by Jenny Cornfield, founder and lead of Soul Food Edinburgh. Every week, Soul Food welcomes dozens of diners across multiple locations to join warm and welcoming meals. The organisation is not a service provider, nor does it deliver charity as commonly understood. Instead – Jenny emphasises – it’s a community.
In our conversation, we talk about welcoming people who may experience homelessness or deprivation into a community without judgement and with dignity. Jenny explains how the way in which the tables are set and meals are served make a crucial difference. Jenny offers do’s and don’ts for listeners who may feel inspired to set up their own initiative.
We also talk about the many challenges for people who experience homelessness and poverty. While a meal meets the immediate need of hunger, truly tackling poverty and homelessness requires more structural solutions.
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