As I start a break away from Calais I get the chance to look back on the last few months and my time with Refugee Community Kitchen. Like most volunteers I came out for a few days (while on a break from volunteering in Serbia...) and ended up coming back for longer-I didn't think it would be for such a long time but it seems to be how it goes.
1500 meals a day is no small number. The kitchen is totally run by volunteers and donations. You come out for a few days to peel onions (100's of kilos) and wash pots (1meter wide) and end up coordinating volunteers through the days prep, sorting incoming donations, cooking rice for 1500 meals, running the distribution at night, driving vans to pick up the weeks veg order for the next few months-or longer...it doesn't take long to find what your good at and it's probably the opposite of what you thought.
14 months ago I never imagined myself in winter preparation meetings, coming up with Eid menu's or working out what veg is less time consuming to prep because we have a skeleton crew of volunteers because the post summer exodus has begun. 26 months ago I thought I was going to peel onions and wash pots for 6 months 😂
My time with RCK has drawn to a close, at least for now. I’ve learned it’s best to not make too many plans! My entire working life has been in kitchens wether paid or voluntary and the past couple of years has opened up a whole new way of thinking and doing in way that only happens when you get thrown into into. A few years ago the idea of not knowing what is next would have freaked me out to breaking point. Now as long as I’m effective in the work I’m doing I’m ready for anything. Insh’Allah.

There is no easy way to talk or write about what we do and what goes on. Words don't do justice and eyes glaze over as it's hard to imagine what is going on a few hours drive away. The press has lost interest and with that so has the public.
The rain wakes you up and your first thought is about the guys sleeping under an emergency blanket strung up with broken tent guy ropes. In the heat you think of the mosquitoes and insects and the people with no way of escaping them. The kids who have no structure or security. The moments in the dead of night when you lose all hope and days later you go with your head hung low to ask someone to dress your wounds in the middle of a field. Late night runs because you can’t sleep because of the pain from a bad tooth. The puckered hands from being in the rain all day with only a t shirt and rain poncho. You get a message saying the here has been another clearance, the second one today. Then you find out the women’s centre warehouse burnt down-theres nothing left. The constant harassment and intimidation from the authorities towards volunteers.

Then there's the breif moments of light relief. The card tricks after eating. The language lessons. Passing the aux lead out the window and the dancing that follows. We did our best to help people celebrate Eid last week-there was meat, singing, drums and dancing and different communities came together to celebrate. You get smiles, hand shakes, fist bumps, hugs and shoulder barges just for showing you care. Being fed from the plate of food you just gave to someone as it's all they have to say thanks. Sitting and sharing a smoke making small talk in Junglish.

At 9am we sit in front of the warehouse drinking coffee and smoke, bleary eyed as we catch up on the day before and what we need to do that day. What do we need to do to make the food better? How can we improve distribution? What playlist should we put on in the kitchen today. Did you hear about J who got to the UK. N seems to be settling in well with his foster family. Have you heard from H? I haven't seen him in a while.
At night we try and switch off. A walk on the beach, cheap whisky, Netflix if the WiFi gods allow, food with friends and new music. People who back home you would probably never meet yet now your best mates, from all walks of life and across the world.


You get to see the best and worst of humanity often in the same place. Would I change it? Yes of course. But seeing as the problem isn't going away, or at least soon, I'll take a break and prepare for yet another winter.
Here’s to the volunteers, doing the do and getting the shit out. Here’s to the donors for still supporting. Here’s to the families and friends for supporting this bunch of misfits. Here’s to another winter across Europe with people left on the fringes of society. And our governments, well you can go fuck yourselves.
