M.A.D.E.'s Love All, Serve All Kitchen Event (2025)

The Love All Serve All Kitchen began as a heartfelt outreach rooted in the belief that service is love in action. Operating from Port-of-Spain with the simple, yet powerful mantra, “An Offering of Love to Love from Love,” the initiative has grown into a community institution dedicated to nourishing both body and spirit. Originally, the event was termed, "Love All, Serve All Soup Kitchen," borrowing from the traditional reference, "soup kitchen," which describes a place where free food is served to those who are homeless or destitute. Yet, with its original meaning being lost over the years, most newcomers do not realize that “soup kitchen” is a broad term that represents the serving of full meals, not just soup.  Now, to better reflect the variety of dishes offered, it is fondly known as the Love All, Serve All Kitchen.

On Saturday morning, an estimated group of twenty-six volunteers gathered at 10 a.m., each bringing with them energy and spirit to serve on a collective mission of caring for the homeless. From the start, the kitchen ran like a well-oiled machine. Some chopped vegetables, others tore lettuce, while a few cleaned the dishes. On the stove, two large pots were lined with oil, ready to bring the meal together. Before long, the work came together beautifully, and although the event was scheduled to last until early afternoon, the team’s determination saw meals completed ahead of time. In the end, a pot of steaming rice, black-eyed peas, and two bowls of salad lined the tables, waiting to be packaged.

At the heart of the effort was Sade, representative of the Love All, Serve All Kitchen, who guided the process with grace and steady leadership. Her coordination and guidance turned what could have felt like hard work into a rewarding and uplifting experience. Every volunteer found their place in the rhythm of the work, and as food was prepared, bonds of friendship and community formed among those working side by side.

The day’s impact was evident in the numbers--one hundred and eighty-three meals were prepared and sent out, but also in the connections made. Volunteers left not just with tired arms, but with full hearts, carrying with them the joy of service. One even expressed, “Being at MADE has introduced me to people of all different backgrounds and allowed me to make long-lasting friendships with people who are just as willing to give back as I am.” Another reflected, “Even though it’s a small difference, I can make a difference in the local community.” Others shared that the gratitude they saw on faces was enough to keep them coming back again and again.

Sade herself put it best when she explained that the kitchen is more than a place to cook; it is a reminder that giving back can ease the burden of those struggling, even if only for a day. “It helps eliminate a level of frustration for those receiving meals,” she said, “one less worry in their daily lives and a ease on their cost of living.”

For anyone moved to support future events, whether by donating food, supplies, funds, or even spreading the word, Sade can be contacted at +1 (868) 272-5553, or on Instagram via the link attached: https://www.instagram.com/letsservett/.

Photographer: Markalah John