How teenagers can help the vulnerable – one meal at a time - The Jewish Chronicle

Every other Sunday afternoon, I head to the ImpACT youth kitchen, a space filled with chopping boards, vegetables and the chatter of my peers working side by side, cutting, peeling, cooking, packaging and cleaning.

This commitment means that someone, somewhere will receive a hot meal. In a week packed with exams, deadlines and constant notifications, those Sundays feel calm, steady and real. That’s the heart of Project ImpACT.

I believe volunteering is one of the most grounding things a person can do. It shifts your focus outward. It reminds you that your time has value, not just to you, but to others. In a world where so much feels fast and disposable, volunteering is about slowing down and offering something lasting: care, consistency and community. There is also a simplicity to it. You show up. You help out. You leave the space better than you found it.

As a teenager, it’s easy to feel like you’re either too young to make a difference or too busy to try. But volunteering gives you the space to prove otherwise. At Project ImpACT, I’ve learned that you don’t have to be an expert to be useful; you just have to care and be willing to get involved. It also gives young people responsibility in a way that feels real and meaningful. We’re not just observers; we are involved. Whether we’re sorting produce or sealing containers, we are part of a team working towards shared goals. We keep going, stay focused and respect the process. That kind of responsibility builds confidence.

I didn’t expect to look forward to volunteering as much as I do, but I’ve come to really value this time. There is something satisfying about working with your hands, knowing the food you are preparing is going directly to someone who needs it. It’s practical, immediate impact, and that is rare.

Project ImpACT in action in their youth kitchen (Photo: Project ImpACT)[Missing Credit]

One Sunday, I was helping seal food containers while a friend boxed everything up. We had about 30 meals lined up. The kitchen smelt of garlic and cumin. There was music playing in the background, and it felt like any other shift – calm, routine, productive and meaningful. At the end, one of the volunteers in charge came by and said: “These will all go out today. They’ll be eaten by dinner.” Just like that, it hit me that our food wasn’t going into storage or being frozen for next week. It was going straight to people who were hungry. People who didn’t have to skip dinner because we were here. That moment stuck with me. It reminded me that impact doesn’t always look like a big change. Sometimes it looks like one meal, one evening, when someone doesn’t go to bed hungry. That’s enough.

It’s also been an unexpected way to connect with others. Volunteering alongside friends makes the work feel lighter, but even when I’m working next to someone I don’t know, there is a shared sense of purpose that brings people together. It reminds me that community isn’t just something we talk about; it’s something we create. And that sense of community runs even deeper knowing that this work is grounded in Jewish values.

Volunteering with Project ImpACT has helped me understand how giving back is woven into the fabric of Jewish life, not as a burden, but as a privilege, and it has also allowed me to meet Jewish people from around London.

Project ImpACT has made volunteering fun. Between conversing with new people, making fun recipes and learning new dishes from professional chefs, it doesn’t feel like hard work. Even in a small way, it has shown me how many people are willing to give their time when they are simply given the opportunity.

Lola Tamman is a Project ImpACT volunteer

To sign up to help at Project ImpACT’s youth kitchen, click here or go to: projectimpact.org.uk/youth-kitchen

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Topics:

Project ImpACT