Church, cafes to serve bowls of kindness

The smell of steaming, hot soup will waft through the streets of Kiama from this week as a new Soup ’n’ More program begins.

Organised by Kiama Baptist Church, residents are invited to visit Kiama Community Centre every Monday from 6pm for food, friendship and support.

Kiama Baptist Church Pastor Cameron Eccleston said that, despite Kiama being toted as an affluent area, there were people who were struggling and needed help.

“A member of the congregation here works for the Salvation Army and she said she had a lot of people from Kiama appealing to them for help,” he said. “In light of the economic downturn and the US financial crisis, there is a need to support people out there.”

Mr Eccleston said he had to be convinced on the idea before he made the decision to launch the project.

“I had that conception of Kiama as a wealthier area, too, so I had to be convinced of the need,” he said.

After establishing a bread ministry program in association with the Bushrangers Bakery Café, Mr Eccelston said he saw a different side of Kiama.

The Soup ’n’ More initiative is designed to appeal to people who may be struggling financially or personally.

“We are not a welfare agency – we are open to those who perceive a need for help,” he said.

“They may need help financially or might just be struggling with loneliness – it’s not just about soup, hopefully it will be much more.”

The Baptist Church has partnered with Kiama cafes Café Parkview, Saltwater Café, Short Black and Bushrangers Bakery to provide food for the program.

“We have a strong connection with the cafes and we approached them and they have been really supportive and eager to help,” Mr Eccleston said.

Café Parkview owner Sandra Papageorge said their business would support the project in any way they could.

The program will run as a trial for six weeks and will continue depending on the public’s response.