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Two years ago, Sarah Thompson was troubled by what she was seeing in the local community. The pandemic and lockdowns had led to a disturbing increase in hardship, mental illness and division.
“I was quite frustrated with where things were at,” she says. “There were some people who were really suffering and, as a Christian, I wanted to help people and wondered what I could do to create some unity in the community.”
The result, after much contemplation, soul-searching and organisation, was Salt & Light – a fortnightly community dinner at Horizon School’s café in Goodall Road, Snells Beach that served its first free meal a year ago.
Thompson says the support she and husband Stuart have received from everyone has been amazing, from the venue itself to key supplier Kiwi Harvest food rescue service and the many volunteers, who help with meal prep, cooking and serving, as well as making up food parcels.
“It’s all fallen into place,” she says. “We have had so many people volunteer – it’s been 12 months and I haven’t had to organise a roster yet.”
The dinners have been a success with the guests, too, with individuals and families flocking to enjoy hearty home-cooked meals such as corned beef, coleslaw and roast potatoes or warming soups.
“For the first one I thought one person might come and we had 30! Now it’s more like 40 to 45 people for every meal.”
Thompson says those coming along are making friends and building new social relationships.
“To get to know so many special people has been a real privilege and to work alongside such an epic team has been amazing,” Thompson says.
“It’s definitely been a journey and a real light in the dark.”
She adds that though she is open about her religion and grace is said before eating, the most important thing is providing a space and meal where everyone is welcome.
“Ultimately it’s about making people feel welcome, well-fed and loved – there are no criteria,” she says.
In future, Sarah and Stuart would like to provide a drop-in centre for youth, increase the frequency of the dinner nights and be able to purchase more food parcel staples, if donations and funding allow.
Info: Email sarah@saltandlight.co.nz
