The saying goes that there is no such thing as a free lunch.

But with a small community project a short walk from Tooting Broadway station, Kemi Akinola and her team are feeding hundreds every week with free food donations that would have been heading for the bin.

On December 18, the Graveney Canteen at the Tooting United Reformed Church hall was packed with people, vulnerable or on low incomes, enjoying a Christmas feast.

Wandsworth Times:

Ms Akinola started the project after hearing about similar work in another part of London and was inspired by the use of 'food waste'.

Every Friday, the team sources vegetables from local suppliers and cooks up a nutritious vegetarian meal for the masses.

She said: "What we realised, and have realised over the last two years, is that people come for the company, and to meet their friends.

"Sitting down and eating is one of the most natural things you can do.

"Every week is a journey, a moment.

"The week we went from 10 to 25 guests, was huge.

"We found out one woman had been walking from Leicester Square to get here."

Ms Akinola said the service works with disabled people, giving carers a break, as well as members of the public grateful for one meal less a week to think about.

One of her proudest moments was when a young offender the project worked with, won a catering apprenticeship after his time with the service.

The service relies on its regular volunteers, who are all fed themselves at the end of a busy shift cooking and serving.

On Christmas-lunch day, Ms Akinola had been up working since 6am, collecting vegetables and buying chicken with monetary donations granted to the team.

It is a rare occasion for meat, and a nut roast was also on offer, as usually the team avoids the potential food poisoning or cross contamination, as well as financial expense.

Ms Akinola said: "Next year, we hope to build more relationships with market traders and we are going to open another canteen in Battersea.

"It will be in the London cooking project, who have donated their space which usually goes to those who run pop-up stalls and kitchens for their preparation.

"They are giving us their kitchen and seating area, which we can use on Tuesday evenings."

The expansion of services will give some of the other team members a chance to step up as Ms Akinola sets up shop in Battersea.

Regular Catherine Webb is one of the users on low income, and has been coming every week for six months.

She said: "I live on my own, which gets lonely, so it is nice to come here.

"The people are so friendly.

"It takes the weight off my mind for one day a week."

Her friend John William, also a regular, said: "There should be more of these.

"It gets people off the streets."

Lucinda Pinto, who works each week at the canteen, said: "It is nice to meet people in the community.

"You see them in the week and they look forward to this atmosphere."

As I leave, a bag of handmade treats is pushed into my hand despite all my protests, and cries of 'Merry Christmas' follow me down the street. The canteen is truly a warm community.

The next lunch at the Graveney Canteen will be held on January 1 at 1pm.