Across the square from the Fremantle Library is a little pop up café that could be easily missed. The aim of Hot Soup, which opened in July, is to provide a soup kitchen for homeless people.
Hot Soup! in Fremantle
"The soup kitchen is financed by people paying $10 for an $8 bowl of soup," Tim Grey-Smith, the driving force behind Hot Soup, told me.
The extra $2 paid forward to give a homeless person a meal covers the cost of the food, and Tim donates his time to the venture. As Tim says, it's a direct, accountable, and efficient way of feeding people that need feeding. He cooks up three types of soup every day, at least one of which is a vegetarian option and he also sells tea and coffee for $3.50 to $4.
Tim Grey-Smith making soup at Hot Soup!
Tim is no stranger to hospitality, having worked in the industry for 18 years (since he was 15 years old). He used to manage local eateries X-Wray and Crowded House, but opened Hot Soup because he wanted to get more involved in social enterprise and community-based work.
Tim gets the premises for a peppercorn rent because of the social enterprise aspect of the café and because the council wants to keep buildings earmarked for development active. There has been a fall in antisocial behaviour in King's Square since the cafe opened, and Tim is hoping to get government funding from the community safety budget. Tim puts the change in behaviour down to having a compassionate approach to people who are down on their luck.
A few different enterprises operate from the Hot Soup shopfront, including a gallery for young and emerging artists. This space is curated by Ellen Broadhurst and has proved very popular with local artists. There is also office and studio space for artists above the café.
The pay it forward model has been a success. So much so, that Hot Soup gave out over 180 meals to vulnerable people during August and were at risk of running out of food supplies. To keep the initiative going, Tim set up a 'go fund me' page and within six days raised $650.
Coffee and tea are also available at Hot Soup!
So please don't miss Hot Soup. Go and feed your body and your soul by buying a bowl of soup and paying it forward to feed someone in need. If you don't live near Fremantle and would like to make a donation to this worthy cause, you can donate at
www.gofundme.com/hotsoup
