About us
Idia’s Community Kitchen
Aina, our founder
Everything we do is in memory of Aina’s late daughter, Idia, who sadly passed away from Typhoid fever at the young age of 11.
As a family, they used to feed the community in any way they could. Aina founded this charity in her memory, to continue to feed, support, and inspire her local community.
Our Story
We are a grassroots community organisation that has grown organically over the last three years. We started by volunteering at the Drop In at St Monica’s, Hoxton Square on Monday mornings realising very quickly that food brought people together and that the social connection forged was something very special. Once a week did not seem to be enough, so we began collecting sandwiches and pizzas from local businesses and retailers and distributing these to people on the streets with the support of Ashwell House and the students there. We also organised showers with the help of the Salvation Army and collected and redistributed clothes and other items.
From there, our founder and chef, Aina Omo-Bare began cooking hot meals and serving them on Hoxton Street outside the post office. Then, before the pandemic struck, Shoreditch Trust, to whom we shall be ever grateful, allowed us to use the kitchen and outside space at their Wellbeing Centre on Pitfield Street for more than six months.
In many ways the pandemic was the perfect storm – so many in need, so many wishing to help, everyone searching for connection. Our family grew: neighbour supporting neighbour with kindness, respect and acceptance.
Seeing the demand, we also started serving in the evening at St Monica’s to extend the days we could offer hot food, and when Fr James Westcott invited us to set up at St Chad’s on Dunlop Street, we could not refuse the opportunity to start serving hot food during the days too. From May 2021, we now have our own base at Fellow’s Court Community Centre – where we can store donation and cook the nutritious food distributed at our centres, to a hostel for whom we provide meals on a Wednesday, and to individuals in need referred to us by Hackney Borough Council.
Each time we set up in a new location, our family grows bigger as we collect new volunteers and new beneficiaries; indeed many of our beneficiaries also volunteer, everyone does what they can. Kindness, respect and acceptance are the values on which we continue to build.
About us
Idia’s Community Kitchen
Aina, our founder
Everything we do is in memory of Aina’s late daughter Idia, who sadly passed away from Typhoid fever at the young age of 11.
As a family, they used to feed the community in any way they could. Aina founded this charity in her memory, to continue to feed, support, and inspire her local community.
Our Story
We are a grassroots community organisation that has grown organically over the last three years. We started by volunteering at the Drop In at St Monica’s, Hoxton Square on Monday mornings realising very quickly that food brought people together and that the social connection forged was something very special. Once a week did not seem to be enough, so we began collecting sandwiches and pizzas from local businesses and retailers and distributing these to people on the streets with the support of Ashwell House and the students there. We also organised showers with the help of the Salvation Army and collected and redistributed clothes and other items.
From there, our founder and chef, Aina Omo-Bare began cooking hot meals and serving them on Hoxton Street outside the post office. Then, before the pandemic struck, Shoreditch Trust, to whom we shall be ever grateful, allowed us to use the kitchen and outside space at their Wellbeing Centre on Pitfield Street for more than six months.
In many ways the pandemic was the perfect storm – so many in need, so many wishing to help, everyone searching for connection. Our family grew: neighbour supporting neighbour with kindness, respect and acceptance.
Seeing the demand, we also started serving in the evening at St Monica’s to extend the days we could offer hot food, and when Fr James Westcott invited us to set up at St Chad’s on Dunlop Street, we could not refuse the opportunity to start serving hot food during the days too. From May 2021, we now have our own base at Fellow’s Court Community Centre – where we can store donation and cook the nutritious food distributed at our centres, to a hostel for whom we provide meals on a Wednesday, and to individuals in need referred to us by Hackney Borough Council.
Each time we set up in a new location, our family grows bigger as we collect new volunteers and new beneficiaries; indeed many of our beneficiaries also volunteer, everyone does what they can. Kindness, respect and acceptance are the values on which we continue to build.
