AN OXFORD icon who has been feeding the city’s homeless for three decades is back in the kitchen for the first time since the pandemic.

Icolyn ‘Ma’ Smith reopened the Oxford Community Soup Kitchen yesterday at the Asian Cultural Centre, off Cowley Road.

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The 90-year-old, who has been awarded an MBE for her efforts as well as a Pride of Britain award in 2018, said: “Since the lockdown we’ve never stopped but we weren’t able to cook the food in the centre due to the coronavirus.”

Oxford Mail:

Because of the pandemic, public buildings were forced to shut which included the Manzil Way centre where Ma Smith and the soup kitchen typically serve meals every Wednesday and Saturday.

After the loss of the premises, her team of volunteers had to adapt to keep helping those most in need.

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Her son, Gary Smith, initially reached out to Tesco on Cowley Road for support with sandwiches from March to May and subsequently to Kebab Kid and KFC, also on the busy street, and they were willing to help to provide meals for the homeless from May until December.

Oxford Mail:

He said: “Thank you to everyone at Tesco, Kebab Kid, and KFC who have supported the soup kitchen over this period, everyone really appreciated the food and we really appreciate you.”

Now the soup kitchen has reopened after seven months, Ma Smith said she would also be offering meals on Christmas Day if no other groups were able to do so.

She said: “I wouldn’t be able to sit at home and enjoy myself with my grandchildren and great grandchildren on Christmas Day if I was wondering if homeless people had something to eat.

“It’s constantly on my mind.”

She was originally inspired to help others when she moved from rural Jamaica in 1965 and saw a young man searching through rubbish bins for something to eat.

Oxford Mail:

Despite facing closure on numerous occasions, the soup kitchen, which became a charity in 2013 has continued to attract dedicated volunteers and donations.

Denis Duggan, among the small team who helped hand out food, said it was a ‘privilege and honour’ to be involved.

The 63-year-old retired engineer said: “Ma Smith is my idol. She is such as a caring person, who will do anything for anyone.”

Philip Pledge was among the first to visit the reopened soup kitchen, enjoying a meal of jerk chicken as well as a cupcake.

The 54-year-old said: “It’s absolutely fantastic what they are doing. It’s a real godsend.

Oxford Mail:

“There are other groups who help but this is all voluntary so I take my hat off to them.”

Safety was key to ensure everyone stayed

Before the Asian Cultural Centre closed, they were already putting food in takeaway boxes, wearing face coverings, and using hand sanitiser, and the relaunch included the same steps.

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A gazebo was set up outside the centre and volunteers then handed out the food to those who stood in a socially-distanced line.

Ma Smith stayed in the kitchen, where she plated up portions of shepherds pie and jerk chicken which were then wheeled out on a trolley.

On top of the reopening, the soup kitchen has also been awarded funding from the Big Lottery Community Fund to continue its work all year round. Anyone who would like to volunteer or donate can visit icolynsmithfoundation.co.uk.