Started in July 2008 by Janice and Francis Wong, Trinity Soup Kitchen is a mission to reach out to the migrant workers in Singapore, a group that’s largely marginalised in our society. At every distribution, we serve up to 400 workers with hot meals and dry food supplies. As the workers come from different countries, backgrounds and religions, a vegetarian dish called Vegetable Sambar Curry is served.
Volunteers from all over the island come together on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, preparing and serving food in 2 parts:
Part 1: Food Preparation
Cutting of vegetables, cooking, washing & loading of cooked food into food containers/warmers.
- Location: Kitchen in Church of St Anthony, Woodlands Ave 1. ( map )
- Time: From 12:30pm to 5pm
Food items: White rice and Vegetable Sambar Curry (comprise 8 veggie types)
Current helpers/volunteers: 8
Part 2: Food Distribution
At 6pm, the second “wave” of volunteers arrive at the church and we load the food containers into cars and proceed to Jurong. We create separate serving points for dry food and cooked food.
- Location: Blue Stars Dormitory, 3 Kian Teck Lane, Jurong West ( map )
- Time: From 6.00pm to 8pm
Other than serving the hot meals of vegetable Sambar Curry, we’ll also distribute dry foodstuff including fruits, potatoes, instant noodles, bread and pastries.
Each session costs between $480 and $530. This depends on the amount of in-kind donations we get. Here’s a breakdown of the cost of a typical session :
| Vegetables
- 20kg carrots, 15kg cabbage, 10kg brinjal, 10kg white melon, 15kg long beans, 10kg potatoes, 10kg tomatoes, 5kg onions & 2kg garlic |
$190 |
| Rice
- 20kg of Thai Fragrant Rice |
$ 28 |
| Cooking Oil
– 3kg |
$ 8 |
| Spices & Dried Goods
- 15 packets of Sambar powder, 2kg Mong Dhal, 1kg Toor Dhal, Tamarind Paste, Ghee & Curry leaf |
$ 25 |
| Fruits & Provisions
- Apples (300 China Fuji Apples) - Potatoes (60kg – $60) or instant noodles (300 packets – $120) |
$120 $120 |
| Supplies for distribution (bowls, spoons) & kitchen supplies | $ 45 |
| Love Offering to Church of St.Anthony for use of kitchen | $50 |
| Total cost per distribution | $536 |
