merendero

08:13 Apr 18, 2016 

I saw that. The few other examples I found that also served food were in the US. So maybe it's the best available term for US English? But I don't think it would be right for UK English. Depends which Ana needs.

08:08 Apr 18, 2016 

We could surely find others where the emphasis may be on feeding; others where it's on education, and still other organizations where it's on both. The latter organizational model is seen at the **Caridad Community Kitchen** in Arizona, for example (see the link in my suggestion box).

08:03 Apr 18, 2016 

"Community kitchens (also called 'collective kitchens') are community-based cooking programs where small groups of people come together to prepare meals and take food home to their families. In a community kitchen every member contributes by planning, preparing, and cooking food."
Community Kitchen Best Practices Toolkit - Food First NL
www.foodsecuritynews.com › Publications

08:00 Apr 18, 2016 

certainly suggests so:

Find your local community kitchen

http://gu.com/p/3n6dk?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Copy_to_clipboard

07:53 Apr 18, 2016 

...of most community kitchens is not that of serving meals. As you've mentioned, David, there may not be an exact equivalent, but these kitchens certainly do feed the needy. If some also engage in education, I don't see that as a 'game changer'.

07:47 Apr 18, 2016 

Because that is the primary function of a community kitchen.

06:58 Apr 18, 2016 

gets close, but if you Google the term, it's clear that community kitchens teach basic cooking skills, nutrition, food management (avoiding waste) and budgeting to less privileged members of society. They aren't primarily for serving food. I wondered about 'community canteens', and they are more about serving food, but seem to have a focus on the cuisine of local ethnic communities and are not 100% free. We may not have an exact equivalent in English.

23:02 Apr 17, 2016 

We also know what you've already shared with us: It's a Uruguayan 'institución' or 'local' where meals are served to the needy; en cuanto al contexto, más claro, ni el agua.

22:47 Apr 17, 2016 

Thank you for all your suggestions. So far, I think that the best option in this case, is "community kitchen". These places work all year long, are specially related to public elementary schools.

22:35 Apr 17, 2016 

You may need to add some explanation of the specific local context too, if you use a set term.

22:00 Apr 17, 2016 

I'd imagine the idea is that 'merenderos' are discussed as an option for families to ensure their children are well-fed and without the stigma perhaps of going to an xxxx to do so, but rather to a 'merendero,' where families might feel more welcomed than at a typical (or traditional) xxx. That's my understanding at least. We'll see what others say. Cheers!

21:16 Apr 17, 2016 

I fail to understand what nutritionists have to do with free of Charge food for poverty stricken People. Are they expected to teach the personnel of soup kitchens what ingredients they ought to use for the meals to become healthier ?

21:00 Apr 17, 2016 

Sounds rather like a Food Bank

20:44 Apr 17, 2016 

the Programme might also be applied in Snack bars (but of course not free of Charge)