Souper Thursdays at Rafford Village Hall, funded by tsiMoray, offering the local community free food and companionship until the end of the month
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MORE than 50 villagers are enjoying a weekly free lunch that is strengthening their community.
‘Souper Thursdays’ at Rafford Village Hall (RVH) provide locals with a choice of home-made soup and bread followed by hot drinks, hand-crafted cakes and biscuits.
RVH secretary Anne Parkinson confirmed tsiMoray provided £3555 to cover the weekly hire of the hall from January to March, ingredients for the soups and advertising leaflets hand-delivered to 225 households in-and-around Rafford.
She said: “Winter weather can make it daunting for folk here to join in all that is being offered in Forres so we wanted to offer homemade lunch in the community. Our village hall is run entirely by volunteers and dependent on the fundraising and support of regular hall users.”
Residents of Rafford and surrounding area gather in the warm, inviting space for refreshments and the companionship of their neighbours. Soup is served from 11.30am-2pm and they often arrive early to enjoy a blether ... as well as refills!
Each Thursday there is a choice of three soups which have, so far, included leek and potato, roasted red pepper, chicken broth, mulligatawny, kale and white bean, seafood chowder and traditional Scottish lentil broths.
Busy volunteers are joined each week by Ian Chorlton and Rosemary Pannell from Finderne Development Trust.
“They have been able to promote local initiatives such as the trust’s winter fuel grants,” said Anne, “and we have also welcomed a representative from M-Connect to discuss possible developments with rural bus transport for Rafford.”
RVS was recently helped with a grant of £650 from the Forres Developers Obligation Fund for bowls, spoons and pans.
“The overall budget has been stretched,” said Anne, “so we’ve been thankful for donations which have helped us to cope with the demand!
“For communities like ours that don’t have a rural bus service, the winter months can be isolating. Souper Thursdays offer villagers something to look forward to and, perhaps, something new to taste.
“We appreciate being able to cater for our community, offering something warming and delicious while bringing folk together.”
Anne enjoys seeing the community spirit.
She said: “Everyone looks forward to Thursdays - there is a happy atmosphere in the hall, with groups meeting up, neighbours arriving together and everyone finding someone to chat to.
“The events appeal to all ages - we’ve celebrated both a first birthday and an 80th, and we regularly get locals who take their lunch break in the hall before returning to work.”
She finished: “We would like to thank all of the soup makers and helpers who have helped banish the winter gloom.
“Souper Thursday continues until the end of March when we will hang up our ladles and dream of salad!”
