On behalf of our role as Head students, we recently chose to volunteer at the Portimão Soup Kitchen, providing us the valuable opportunity to dive behind the scenes of a well-regarded, impactful community initiative.

What does the Soup Kitchen do?

The Soup Kitchen is a food charity based in Portimão, founded in 2010 by the International Christian Fellowship of Portimão. Every week on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday, volunteers gather to prepare food, drinks, snacks, and clothes donated by locals to hand out to those in need. The meals prepared include: sandwiches, yoghurt, soup, warm food and pastries.

The stories of regular customers

João Pedro Martins has been a customer at the Soup Kitchen for around a year and was more than happy to speak with us. Due to the low minimum wage in Portugal, João has found himself without enough money to pay for bills such as gasoline, water and electricity, much less for food. With the prices increasing in Portugal as a result of increasing tourism and foreign direct investment, the price of food has increased significantly, leaving him to choose between having a home and being fed. João, amongst all other customers, showed extreme gratitude towards the Soup Kitchen, as he said very straightforwardly and honestly; “Without it, I would be hungry.”

This reality doesn’t only affect João, but also more people than we would like to think in Portugal. With a minimum wage of €920 a month as of 2026, and average rents increasing disproportionately, especially in Urban areas, many find themselves in a similar and difficult dilemma. By donating, you will be helping people like João.

In addition to helping people like João, the Portimão Soup Kitchen offers private food deliveries to those who are physically unable to pick up their food. The two of us were asked if we could bring food to an elderly lady named Rosalina. We both believe this service sets the Soup Kitchen apart from other social initiatives, illustrating their personal considerations.

What we have learned

To briefly sum up our tasks, the two of us helped with the assembly of Ham & Cheese sandwiches, before they were packaged together with the other contents in order to be picked up from Midday. Our tasks at school usually consist of planning events, helping assist with student and school-led initiatives and improving overall communication between teachers and students. Despite trying to make a difference in our school, we wanted to expand our ambitions and decided that giving back to the community of the Algarve was a great and insightful idea. The volunteer work was a heartwarming break from revising for our end-of-year exams, and it was extremely rewarding to hear an “obrigado/a” with a smile from every customer.

As young adults who lead privileged lives, it was a humbling experience to witness how many customers simply can’t afford to go grocery shopping. An eye-opener for us both was discovering how not all of the kitchen's customers are homeless, in fact, most of them have homes and some form of work. The two of us have no issue when it comes to complaining about school-related things, not being able to do all the things we want or feeling that life just isn´t going the way we want it to. Speaking to volunteers, donors and customers, reminded us that much of what people have (a loved one, your job, your home etc) can be lost from one day to another - leaving us with a stark impression to appreciate more of what we might take for granted.

How YOU can help

If you are wondering how to help, here are three simple ways you can do so. One, volunteering. If you live near Portimão or are willing to drive to the city, you can give Joy a call at (+351) 917 - 358 - 098. Secondly, donations. The soup kitchen is getting busier and busier by the passing day and donations are always welcome. Donations do not need expensive things, simple necessities such as rice, pasta and bread go a long way. And thirdly, through supporting a local fundraiser. Whenever the soup kitchen hosts a fundraiser, it is encouraged for people to attend to provide support.

On Thursday, May 14th 2026, there will be a fundraiser at Pirata Beach Bar in Lagos, Algarve in order to raise funds and awareness for the soup kitchen. The ticket prices are €25 per person, which includes food and drinks. The event will start at 13:00 and games at 14:00. If you want a sociable and easy-going event, do not miss out! There will also be a raffle draw with goods donated by local businesses. Let your friends and family know and do not miss out on this opportunity!