The annual Christian Aid fund-raising soup lunches for Lent start at St John’s on Friday 20 February and run for six weeks.
Organised by the Dumfries Christian Network, the lunches are prepared by teams from churches across the town and will be held in the church hall from noon until 1.30pm each Friday.
This Dumfries institution has been held for more than 35 years. As people say: “You know spring is coming when the lent lunches start”.
As well as homemade soup, a cheese or plain roll followed by tea and coffee – all for a minimum donation of £3 – there will be a sales table including homemade baking and Fairtrade stall from Traidcraft.
Alison Wright, Convenor of the Dumfries Christian Aid committee, said: “We are looking forward to the soup lunches and hope to raise as much money as in previous years. More than £4,300 was raised last year.
“The hall is always busy, there is a great atmosphere, and the soup is always good. We are grateful to the teams from eleven churches and the Fairtrade group.
Margaret Morton, secretary of the Christian Aid committee, added: “Our Friday lunches are very friendly, happy occasions where anyone can come along, meet lots of others and enjoy some really good food.
“We are really well supported by people in the town not just churchgoers and we have a good range of homemade soups.”
The cash raised will go towards on-going development schemes to help poor countries of the world.
Said Margaret: “Last year we raised enough money to give ten villages in Africa access to clean water by providing a village well and cans for carrying water.”
