For three decades Icolyn ‘Ma’ Smith has been feeding the city’s homeless and she is doing so again during the pandemic after Oxford Community Soup Kitchen reopened off Cowley Road.
The Oxford Community Soup Kitchen reopened at the Asian Cultural Centre in Manzil Way last week.
The 90-year-old, who has been awarded an MBE for her efforts as well as a Pride of Britain award in 2018, said: “Since the lockdown we’ve never stopped but we weren’t able to cook the food in the centre due to the coronavirus.”
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Ma Smith's efforts have also been recognised by Oxfordshire's Lord Lieutenant Tim Stevenson OBE and in 2015 a book was published to celebrate her life story.
Gary Smith with Lord Lieutenant Tim Stevenson in 2013
Due to the pandemic, public buildings were forced to shut which included the Manzil Way centre where Ma Smith and the soup kitchen usually serve meals every Wednesday and Saturday.
After the temporary loss of the premises, her team of volunteers had to adapt to keep helping those most in need.
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Her son, Gary Smith, initially reached out to Tesco on Cowley Road for support with sandwiches from March to May and subsequently to Kebab Kid and KFC, also on the busy street, and they were willing to help to provide meals for the homeless from May until December.
Now the soup kitchen has reopened after seven months, Ma Smith said she would also be offering meals on Christmas Day if no other groups were able to do so.
She said: “I wouldn’t be able to sit at home and enjoy myself with my grandchildren and great grandchildren on Christmas Day if I was wondering if homeless people had something to eat.
“It’s constantly on my mind.”
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She was originally inspired to help others when she moved from rural Jamaica in 1965 and saw a young man searching through rubbish bins for something to eat.
Ma Smith with her book in 2015
Despite facing closure on numerous occasions, the soup kitchen, which became a charity in 2013 has continued to attract dedicated volunteers and donations.
Before the Asian Cultural Centre closed, they were already putting food in takeaway boxes, wearing face coverings, and using hand sanitiser, and the relaunch included the same steps.
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A gazebo was set up outside the centre and volunteers then handed out the food to those who stood in a socially-distanced line.
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