January still has that new-notebook feeling — and Week 2 showed up with more children than we expected. The benches filled faster. Extra names appeared in the register in pencil, then ink.
Families are talking. Neighbours are nudging each other: “Wewe, leta mtoto.” Word has spread that Saturday is not only food; it is a place where a child is seen.
That surge is a compliment and a responsibility. It means trust. It also means we watch our stock more carefully — maize flour does not buy itself, and good intentions do not replace receipts.
We are grateful — and we are planning. More bowls means more maize flour, more greens, more hands stirring. The need is not abstract here; it walks in wearing school socks and oversized sweaters.
Volunteers have been arriving earlier, laughing off the cold morning, tying hairnets, tasting salt like a ritual. The community is answering something basic: children should not eat alone.
We are looking ahead with hope, not because the economics are easy, but because the room keeps filling with resolve. Join us this year as a volunteer or supporter; help us keep the programme steady when holidays stretch household budgets thin.
If you are far away, you can still stand with us — a transfer on M‑PESA, a monthly commitment, a message that says you remember Saturdays exist beyond your own calendar.
Week 2 is early — but early matters. It sets tone. It tells children someone noticed before the year got away from them.