25/10/2026
We received a lunchtime story recently from a member of staff who wanted to share a wholesome interaction they'd had during our daily lunch service...
On the menu was steak, chips, sticky toffee sponge pudding and custard. Alongside tea, coffee and biscuits donated by one of our amazing volunteers Michelle.
The dining room at St George’s Crypt was buzzing with the lunchtime rush, but Caroline noticed a regular lunchtime visitor.
"The frail, elderly gentleman was staring at his plate, his hands trembling slightly as he struggled to cut his steak dinner. He didn't want a grand gesture or a bag of clothes, he just wanted a bit of support to enjoy his meal.
I pulled up a chair, keeping my approach quiet and low-key. 'Mind if I be your hands for a minute?' I asked. Chatting casually about Leeds, I took the cutlery and sliced the meat into neat, manageable pieces.
'Thank you, love,' his shoulders relaxed as he took back his fork. 'I just needed a little bit of help.' As I stood up, I was reminded that restoring someone's dignity doesn't always require a massive act.
Sometimes, it’s as simple as helping them cut up their dinner."
Heartwarming stories like this truly remind us that restoring peoples' dignity can simply be through a small act of kindness. We urge our supporters to take some time to think today of the small acts you can do that cause a positive ripple effect in people's lives going forward.
If this story has inspired you to help us in any way, please see our website here for information of how you can get involved in helping us in our mission to end homelessness in Leeds: https://ow.ly/o99K50ZLayl
