I FIRST learned about the People's Cafe in Kendal from an article in your newspaper.

Since then my husband and I have enjoyed many lunches there, meeting people from different backgrounds.

We go, wondering what the cooks have dreamed up from the varied food that has been given. We can choose any mixture we like. One sometimes sees someone with curry accompanied by a chunk of cake on the same plate. Recently I had apple-and-walnut fruit crumble, two ingredients I would not have thought to put together. See what I might have missed! I started with parsnip-and-apple soup, then an omelette with tomatoes and cheese, and very nice home-made chips. I could have added bacon and mushrooms. After that there was an attractive assortment of cake and tea or coffee.

On the way out we could help ourselves to bread, surplus fruit and vegetables to take home. All this would have been thrown away by supermarkets and other suppliers.

We gladly gave a donation to help with expenses such as rent and vegetable oil for cooking. It's so nice to have someone else do the cooking and preparation so we can have time to chat with people we would probably never have met.

There is always a friendly welcome from the volunteer staff, with cheerful service. They must give a lot of time and effort, behind the scenes as well as in the cafe. However, they now need more volunteers.

The cafe is open from 11am to 2pm at the South Lakes Foyer, near Kendal bus station, on the first Saturday of the month. It used to be open every Saturday but now needs extra help.

There are various ways you can help, as well as cooking and serving. Food needs to be collected, sorted and put into storage and then taken out to various organisations. If you would like to join the team, please email them at slacc@slacc.org.uk

Or, come to the cafe on the first Saturday of the month, have a delicious meal and pick up a leaflet about the many things they do to use good food that would otherwise be thrown away.

Jillian Hedges

Kendal