2nd October 2024 - Community Meal
Food, glorious food -- and so much more!
Every Friday, our community gathers at the Garnethill Multicultural Centre hall for culture and culinary delight. At 12pm, we come together for the CWIN Community Meal, a free, hot meal that celebrates the cooking traditions of our community, made by volunteer chefs from asylum seeker and refugee backgrounds.
On average, about 50 individuals join us each week, engaging with one another over food, forming social connections, and creating a lively and inclusive atmosphere. The meal itself is just the beginning of the experience: our guests can also enjoy activities like table tennis and card games, providing opportunities to connect in a relaxed setting. One of our participants beautifully summed it up: “Because I'm a refugee, I don't have anyone here, I'm alone, coming and being active makes me feel good, and I meet more friends.”
Kurdish Dolma in the making.
Various partner organisations can also set up stalls, further enriching the experience with resources and support. To make it more convenient for everyone, we run our community meal alongside many of our wellbeing activities, ensuring easy access to other projects! The weekly meal is also a chance for community members to take turns in the kitchen, showcasing their cooking traditions while developing new relationships.
Our community chef Kate and volunteer Samira making a giant fruit salad—a healthy dessert to feed 50!
Organised by Vivien Opiolka, our community chef Kate Ireland and the invaluable help of volunteers each week, the CWIN Community Meal wouldn’t be possible without the support of the Glasgow Communities Fund through GCC and GCVS, and The National Lottery Community Fund made possible by National Lottery players.
You can also help us continue making an impact! You can support by donating via this Givey link. Be sure to include "More meals" as a message with your donation.
If your organisation can benefit our community and you would like to hold a stall at one of our meals, please contact Vivien at 07970 792312.
Join us tomorrow for a delicious meal and great company! Just show up at 12pm at the Garnethill Multicultural Centre, 21 Rose Street, G3 6RE.