Soup Kitchen OFM Valletta

‘You give something to eat!’ (Lk 9,13) Soup Kitchen OFM Valletta opened its doors on the 25th of August, 2021. It is not just about feeding people, but about restoring dignity and listening to people’s stories. Our motto is ‘Life with Dignity’. We treat those who come to us as guests, not just recipients of charity, following the Franciscan spirit of compassion and respect. If someone is in need, they should feel welcomed – do not let pride stop you from coming forward.

Soup Kitchen OFM Valletta fills a crucial role in Maltese society by supporting people experiencing economic hardship, homelessness, or social exclusion. Its efforts go beyond feeding to upholding dignity, community, and inclusion for those at the margins.

The Soup Kitchen provides a number of essential services free of charge Monday to Friday, including breakfast, a nutritious three course meal and a packed dinner. Our support goes beyond food as additional we offer pro bono services varying from showers and haircuts to legal and social support services by qualified social workers, counselling, legal support, dental care, and clothing vouchers. All these amenities and resources are aimed at preserving dignity, self-worth and human connection, beyond feeding people who are facing food insecurity.

The Soup Kitchen OFM Valletta provided a lifeline of over 112,000 meals to vulnerable individuals last year. We served 28,500 distinct guests throughout 2025. Its primary support came in the form of 85,500 hot lunches and a further 27,100 packed suppers, totalling 112,600 meals for the year.

The kitchen’s reach extends across Malta, with guests predominantly coming from Valletta, Floriana, Marsa, Qormi, and Saint Paul’s Bay, among other localities. Beyond emergency food provision, the organisation reports a significant long-term achievement: since its inception, it has assisted 302 guests in finding employment.

The operation is sustained by a vast network of support. Management is handled by just two employees, supported by six board members and a core volunteer force of 75 helpers.

Everyday we have volunteers coming from different companies, schools, groups and movements, etc. Notably, these volunteers hail from 62 different countries, reflecting a wide international commitment to the cause. Financial backing comes from 68 companies and 1,140 individual donors, while educational and corporate engagement has been fostered through 1,800 visits from schools, companies, and youth centres.

The Soup Kitchen works was recognised locally and internationally. In the 2023 it was awarded European Citizen’s Prize by the European Parliament for its contribution to solidarity, unity and social inclusion.

In a visit held by Minister General Fr. Massimo Fusarelli OFM he wrote: ‘Ho visitato con interesse e gioia questo Soup Kitchen OFM a La Valletta. Conosco bene questo tipo di servizio e ancora prima della presenza tra persone che vivino con disagio. Visitando i locali vedo che si promuove la dignità di ciascuno, mentre si provede il cibo ed altri bisogni della persona. Auguro ai fratelli e ai volontari di crescere in questo servizio, sapendo che sempre di più ricevono rispetto a quanti possono dare. S. Francesco benedica questo luogo di carità e solidarietà.’