- Joined
- Aug 20, 2022
- Messages
- 30,588
- Points
- 113
I hosted my first free soup event at my void deck!
I Made This
Recently, I hosted a small community event at my void deck called Kampong Soup Kitchen.
The basic idea was simple: serve free soup to people who signed up, and if there was extra, anyone passing by was welcome to have some too.
This came partly from reading and thinking about how many people feel socially isolated today, even though we technically have so many ways to connect. Initially, I wanted to use private venues for community events, but rental costs made it hard to keep sustainable.
Then someone in a social Telegram group mentioned that they had organised a potluck at their void deck before, and suggested I try asking my town council. So I did. I explained clearly that it was a free community food event, with no money exchanged, and that I would cap it at around 50 people to keep it manageable for both me and the residents.
To my surprise, they were okay with it.
I ended up serving two soups:
- A clear chicken soup with crêpes and vegetables
- A spiced pumpkin and carrot soup with red lentils and coconut milk
I tried to keep the ingredients halal-friendly, although I also made it clear that I’m not from a halal household.
The total cost for using the space came up to $89.38. That included $50 for the rental, plus charges for the use of electrical and water points. Compared to private venue rental, it was honestly very affordable, and I’m quite grateful that my town council was open to the idea.
Small clarification: I paid for everything myself and ran this independently. Nobody paid me anything, and the soup was free for anyone who came by, though I set aside portions first for those who had signed up.
There were some hiccups. I could only use one electrical point because the other one required a 15A round-pin plug, which I did not have. One water point also was not working, though thankfully there was another one nearby. I also could not confirm the wattage of the electrical point, so I was slightly worried about overloading or tripping it.
I spread the word to my neighbours quite last-minute because the event itself was also planned in a bit of a rush. Still, some neighbours came down to try the soup, and a few even offered to help out at the next one. Some of them also naturally started chatting with people who had signed up, which was honestly one of the nicest parts of the whole thing.
I also want to thank the people who volunteered to help. Their support made the event much easier to run.
What surprised me most was not just that people came down for soup, but that neighbours and strangers naturally started chatting with one another. It made me realise that sometimes people are open to community, but there just needs to be a simple excuse for everyone to gather.
For anyone thinking of doing something similar at their own void deck, here are a few things I learnt:
-LifeSG may not list the void deck directly below your block, so going through your town council may be the better route. That was what I did, since I had seen weddings and funerals held at my void deck before.
-Be very clear about what your event is. In my case, I stated that it was a free community event with no money exchanged. I’m not sure how commercial events would be handled, so check directly with your town council.
-Ask about the exact water and electrical points available. Check whether they are working, what plug type they use, and what the wattage limit is.
-If the electrical load allows, bring fans. Singapore is hot and humid, and people will be much more comfortable if there is some airflow.
If you do not have enough chairs, floor mats can help too.
-Keep the first event small and manageable. It is easier to scale up later than to be overwhelmed on the first try.
-I also tried to keep things manageable by capping the numbers, preparing the food properly, keeping the area clean, and making sure we cleared everything after the event.
-Also, be mindful of accessibility and foot traffic. Avoid blocking corridors, lift lobbies, ramps, letterboxes, bicycle paths, or common walking routes. People should still be able to move through the void deck comfortably, especially elderly residents, wheelchair users, families with prams, and anyone just passing by.
Overall, I’m hoping to host more free community events at my void deck. I also hope this helps others see the void deck as more than just a space for weddings and funerals. It can also be a simple, affordable space for neighbours and strangers to meet.
TL;DR: I asked my town council whether I could host a free community food event at my void deck. They said yes. I paid about $89 and hosted a soup event.
