Preparing  three meals per day for 20 children and 3 staff members is quite a task. Especially with inadequate kitchen facilities. Previously the Love Orphanage kitchen consisted of meager supplies – a couple of worn out pots, spoons and knives, and worst of all, a small coal burning stove (pictured below, left) used to cook all meals. Not only was the coal burning stove inadequate in size, and very slow to cook, it was a health hazard for everyone.

Upgrading the kitchen was a high priority for the December volunteer team. This involved purchasing a gas range and propane tank, new pots and much needed cooking tools and supplies, hand crafted wooden prep table and storage shelf, and serving plates, cups, and utensils. What a huge difference this upgrade makes! Not only is cooking easier, it improves the well being of everyone at Love Orphanage.

As Rodeline, one of the live-in support staff said, “Having a clean kitchen, with new things makes us feel good about ourselves… eating from a clean plate and nice space. It gives us pride.” She described cooking: “The coal is so dirty, my hands are always covered with soot and I breathe in so much smoke. Now cooking will be so much cleaner and faster.” Everyone was truly overjoyed by the kitchen upgrade!

Old Kitchen

Kitchen Upgrade

New kitchen supplies

New gas stove and pots