I drove to Lenasia South yesterday morning to meet Pooja.  I’m taking the photos at her and Suren’s wedding next Saturday and I wanted to see the temple that they’re getting married in… just to be prepared.

After checking out the temple, which by the way, is just incredible, we drove around the corner to her future MIL’s house to chat about the timing on the day.  I didn’t realise that they ran a feeding scheme from their home! Once a month, they feed destitute adults and children that live in the area.  And Saturday was the day that this month’s meal happened.

When they started this 5 years ago, it was quite small…. but now it’s quite an amazing undertaking.  They feed over 500 children and a few hundred adults every month.  Not only does everyone get a good hot meal, but everyone gets to take home a food parcel!   And it’s run completely by donations from the local community and others that have heard about them!

Thankfully, I carry a camera on me wherever I go, so I grabbed my camera and the only lens I had in my handbag… my 50mm and I took some photos. LOL they thought it was quite funny that I carry a camera everywhere but hey, I’m a blogger!! I love telling stories with photos

Anyway, they’ve got the “kitchen” set up in the garage, and while I was there they had 4 of the most enormous pots I’ve ever seen, cooking the food.  Shamilaa was telling me that they cook 60 kg of rice now, and they get up at 4am to start the food, having started the food parcel preparations on the Thursday before the event.

I have never seen such a massive wooden spoon in my life…

The blue packets are the food parcels

500 packs for the kids to take home, which included chips and sweets and fruit

I was there at 10am, and the food starts getting dished out at around midday, but even knowing that, the kids had started arriving and were playing on the grass outside the house. As soon as they saw my camera they came running

I’m definitely going again.  On the 10th of December they’re going to be having their Christmas lunch.  Last year they fed 1600 kids on that day, and every single child got a gift.  Shamilaa told me that it was amazing to see the gifts arrive… and it was a miracle that every person got something to take home.  They’re expecting many more kids and adults at this year’s Christmas event… and they’re needing help.  So… if you can help in any way, please contact them via their website.