At the heart of our communities, food has always been more than just nourishment, it’s a way to connect, to share, and to support one another.

That’s exactly what Open Arms Organisation, formerly known as Soul Food Café, continues to do every week with the help of Director Henry Adefaluju and his dedicated team of volunteers.

From Social Eating to Community Support

Before the pandemic, the group ran a social eating experiment called Soul Food Café, bringing people from diverse backgrounds together around the same table. The food for that project came from FareShare Midlands, whose surplus supplies helped make those shared meals possible.

When lockdowns changed how people could meet, Open Arms adapted, shifting much of its work into food parcel distribution so families and individuals struggling with rising costs wouldn’t go without. Today, people still come every Friday not only for a parcel, but for compassion and connection.

For Henry, running Open Arms has always been about much more than handing out food. As one of the volunteers explains:

“I've heard lots of stories because of the increasing cost of living increasing before they says ‘I don't have any food’ they just want to tell you the condition that brought them to ask for food.”

Voices from the Community

The experiences of visitors show just how vital this support has become. One said:

“For a lot of people, everyone’s having to tighten their belts quite considerably, and organisations such as this one are really helpful. It’s lovely for us to be able to use it, and it’s made a massive difference to me because I was always worried about the cost of food. Then it got much worse, and I was choosing between heating my home and having food. This takes that worry away a little bit.”

Another visitor shared how the food parcels make a practical difference:

“I don’t cook very well, so it helps that I get things I can easily eat. I go home and I’m able to eat something good, and it keeps me from having to go to McDonald’s.”

A Safe Space Beyond Food

The ongoing cost-of-living pressures mean new people arrive each week. Many don’t just come for groceries; they come to share their stories, to be seen, and to feel part of a community. For those people, Open Arms is more than a food project, it’s a safe space and a reminder that they are not alone.

Henry and his volunteers remain the driving force: cooking, packing, delivering, and welcoming people with open arms.

Start fundraising for us today: Help us by raising funds to tackle hunger and fight food waste – find out how to fundraise for FSM.

See the incredible work of Open Arms in action. Watch the full video and discover how you can help turn surplus food into hope for the community.