Ealing Charity Worker's Last Shift
Andrew Mcleay 'Macca' leaves Ealing Soup Kitchen after six and a half years
Ealing Soup Kitcher's Andrew Mcleay moves on
The man behind the success story that is Ealing Soup Kitchen, is moving on to pastures new.
Andrew Mcleay, aka 'Macca', found himself on the streets of London after arriving from Australia in March 2008 and this experience led him to want to help others who find themselves in such circumstances.
He has been manager of the Ealing Soup Kitchen charity since 2014 and has worked tirelessly to feed and care for the ever increasing numbers of men and women in need.
An artist, Andrew used his talents to document many of the regular clients, photographing and painting them with proceeds of the sales of his work being ploughed back into the Soup Kitchen.
Leo by Andrew McCleay (2014)
The Soup Kitchen has been busier than ever throughout the pandemic, and volunteers have been feeding hundreds of people every week.
Picture: Ealing Soup Kitchen
Andrew has paid tribute to everyone involved in helping out saying he has been privileged and honoured to have been part of a community that cares so much, and leaving his job of the last six and half years feels like leaving his family.
He's moving to sister charity City Harvest London so will still be 'local' and will continue to have a strong connection to the Soup Kitchen.
Andrew says he has made many lifelong friends who have supported him throughout and is thankful for the opportunities and wants to thank the trustees for giving him a shot to dream big & support his original vision back in 2014.
News of his departure on social media has led to hundreds of good wishes and tributes with many acknowledging the above and beyond work he has done.
The Ealing Central and Acton MP, Rupa Huq who has helped out at the Soup Kitchen said:
" Andrew put Ealing Soup Kitchen, after decades of existence, on everyone’s radar. He is a man of many talents, dispensing legal advice to clients one minute and producing his striking photography and portrait sketches the next. He certainly has big shoes to fill but I am delighted that he is going on to another charitable sector role in the borough with City Harvest who I also hope he will now put further on the map."
Trustees of The Ealing Soup Kitchen have not yet found a replacement, but expect to do so over the next few months. Opening hours and scheduled services will continue to run interrupted.
If you wish to contact ESK - you are asked to do so now via email not social media ealingsoupkitchen@gmail.com
Annemarie Flanagan
19 January 2021