A SOUTHEND soup kitchen is celebrating 100 weeks since its launch with a jubilee-style street party for the homeless community.

One Love soup kitchen will open its doors to the homeless, as well as offering showers and fresh changes of clothes over Easter.

On Easter Monday the charity will offer a roast dinner and Easter eggs to its homeless guests.

One Love has acknowledged Bank Holidays can prove especially tough for homeless people, with shops and places to find food often closed.

The soup kitchen is encouraging people to donate food, clothes as well as urging people to become involved with volunteering.

Founder Zoey Smith said: “We have been running 100 weeks so are celebrating with a jubilee style street party for our homeless visitors.

“It also coincides with Easter so we are having an Easter meal too and giving out Easter eggs at a time that can be difficult for the homeless.

“Places close on Bank Holidays so they will struggle to get a meal and don’t see family when many of us are fortunate to do so.

“We’ll be giving out essentials, offering showers and a change of clothing so that people can maintain their dignity.

“We would also like to celebrate how far we’ve come in 100 weeks. Starting one night a week in a car park and growing to two nights a week on a site with facilities.

“Bearing in mind this is temporary and we need to find a fixed solution in the future, also with growing numbers of homeless nationally we have seen our numbers and the needs soar.

“So it’s about raising awareness, asking for clothing and food donations as well as inviting people to get involved in volunteering.

“We need people willing to give haircuts and things like that too.”

The soup kitchen opens every Monday and Thursday in the evening, and every Tuesday at lunch, based at the Hollybrook site off Great Eastern Avenue.

Anyone who can donate items, or give up time to support the soup kitchen should contact onelovesk@aol.co.uk. or find One Love Soup Kitchen on Facebook.