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Its a cold Sunday night in late October with bitter winds.

 

Crowds begin to form under the giant screen behind the bus station in Chatham 

 

Despite the crisp cold air there is a warm atmoshpere about the place. As a dozen volunteers scurry about preparing for the chaos that is about to ensue. 

 

The hungry eyes of the homeless  are met with warm,generous, smiles of the volunteers. 

 

As the lines start to form everyone starts to shift up a gear. The lids are lifted, steam billows from the piping hot food and the queue pushes forward. 

 

As the smell of homemade chcicken pie, sausage hot pot and chciken curry fill the air, the queue becomes restless and anxious.  

 

Another night of well organized chaos kicks off. The three small gazebos, food, tolietiries and clothes seem crowded by a crowd totalling well over 80 people   

 

 

The food gazebo is a hib of activity with many making this the first port of call. 

 

Everyone is so politie and friendly towards one another in such a genuine manner its hard to imagaine where else in the world one would find such sincerity. 

 

The clothing gazebo is the rowdiest of all, people scrambling for warm, clean clothes in the right size. 

 

There is a limit of only 2 items per person to ensure everybody gets what they need. 

 

Darren keeps a watchful eye over the clothing tent,People often try to take more than the 2 permitted items. Winter is coming and these people are desperate for warm clothes. 

 

Liz rushes between tents checking in on everyone ad catching up with the regulars. 

 

The tolietires section is the quietest with the calmest atmoshpere, only needing two volunteers to run, 

 

 

As the crowds dwindle down and the intensity ramps down people leave with full bellys,warm clothes and toliteries. 

 

The homeless leave with a sense of satisfation in their eyes not from the food, clothes or tolietries but from a the kindness and care shown to them by the volunteers. 

 

'One Big Family' accepts anyone who comes along to one of their soup kitchens into their family and treat them like one of their own...