THE SALVATION Army in West Reading is holding an auction to fund much-needed upgrades to its kitchen.
Every week, a dedicated cook at the its lunch club in Reading West arrives in the early hours of the morning to prepare meals for the community, because the oven’s broken thermostat makes cooking a daily challenge.
Now the church is rallying support to replace the faulty appliance with a special fundraising auction on at the church hall on Oxford Road.
The auction will feature a wide range of donated items, from household goods to unique treasures, all generously given by supporters and local donors.
Past auctions have raised between £300-£400, and organisers hope this one will bring in enough to finally upgrade the kitchen.
Portia Stirling Mack, leader of the Salvation Army at Reading West, explained that the fundraiser isn’t about an appliance – it’s about sustaining a lifeline for the community.
“Our cook struggles every week because the oven doesn’t work properly—she has to start cooking at the crack of dawn just to get meals ready on time.
“This auction is about making sure she, and the people we serve—have the proper tools to keep this vital community service running.
“An upgraded kitchen will improve meal quality and variety, it will reduce stress on volunteers and increase our capacity to serve more people.”
The Salvation Army fundraising auction takes place at the church hall on Oxford Road on Saturday, April 26 , at 3pm.
