Community Kitchen

At the tail end of COVID-19, as Sri Lanka began grappling with an unprecedented economiccrisis, food insecurity and malnutrition reached alarming levels across the country. It was during this critical period that the seeds of the Christ Church Galkissa Community Kitchen were sown.

The initiative began when The Samaritans of Sri Lanka, who had already established several community kitchens across the island, reached out to Christ Church Galkissa to explore the possibility of setting up a kitchen in our parish. With their experience, structure, and guidance, we launched what would become one of the church’s most impactful outreach initiatives. For over a year, we operated with their close support, learning, building systems, and laying a strong foundation. Thereafter, equipped with their guidance and encouragement, Christ Church Galkissa took on the responsibility of continuing the kitchen independently — and it has continued every single Saturday without fail.

Today, four years on, the Community Kitchen stands as a steady pillar of hope. On average, we serve between 8,000 to 9,000 hot meals each year, prepared and distributed every Saturday to individuals and families facing hardship. What began as a response to a national crisis has now become a sustained commitment to addressing hunger and standing in solidarity with those in need.

The Heart and Soul: Our Volunteers

At the core of this initiative are our volunteers — the true heart and soul of the Community Kitchen. We are blessed with individuals who have been with us from day one, faithfully serving week after week. Alongside them are volunteers who come and go, each contributing in their own season and capacity. We have school children completing their volunteering hours, working professionals giving up their Saturdays, families serving together, and individuals who simply show up with willing hands and open hearts. There is no age barrier and no qualification required — only a desire to serve. Over the years, we have built a small but remarkable family united by compassion and purpose. The kitchen is as much about community as it is about meals.

Sustained by Generosity

The Community Kitchen runs purely on donations — in cash, in kind, and in infrastructure. We are deeply grateful for the generosity of donors from across Sri Lanka and around the globe. Some are returning donors who support us consistently; others contribute once in response to a particular appeal. Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference. We truly believe that no gift is insignificant. We are humbled to say that not a single Saturday has passed without the resources needed to prepare and serve meals. Time and again, provision has arrived just when it was needed. This steady flow of generosity is a powerful reminder of the compassion that exists within and beyond our parish.

More Than a Meal

The Christ Church Galkissa Community Kitchen is more than a weekly food distribution. It is a space where dignity is upheld, where fellowship is strengthened, and where faith is expressed through action. It is a reminder that in times of crisis and in seasons of stability alike, we are called to care for one another. Four plus years since its inception, what began as an urgent response to national hardship has grown into a lasting ministry of love — sustained by volunteers, strengthened by donors, and guided by the foundation laid by The Samaritans of Sri Lanka. Every Saturday, without fail, hope is served — one hot meal at a time.