In 1975, only two years into Pinochet’s regime, extreme and experimental economic reforms were put in place to encourage the country’s struggling economy. The cost of this ‘shock treatment’ was massive inflation and unemployment which hurt most the families who were already poor or living from paycheque to paycheque.
Responding to the needs of parishioners struggling to feed their families and the lack of government relief effort, church sponsored organisations (such as the Pro-Paz Committee and it’s successor the Vicariate of Solidarity) set up children’s soup kitchens. Meals were prepared and children were watched over by a mixture of community volunteers and the local mothers whose children were fed, while ingredients often came as donations from shops and farmers connected to the church. Over 25,000 children received meals from more than 350 Vicariate children’s soup kitchens such as the one at the centre of this arpillera scene (Memoria Chilena).
Behind the central soup pot can also be seen women operating a community laundry; these might provide employment and a small income to workers, or simply help fund the soup kitchen. The church doors on the left open up to a member of the clergy inviting us in, as they did to the arpilleristas who set up their meetings and workshops in church courtyards and basements.
Arpillerista María Madariaga described her own experiences: “there was a soup kitchen for children, although there was an age limit to abide by. [...] Of my three children at the time, only one was able to eat. The others couldn’t eat. We thought that it was better that one eat than none. […] Over time, the soup kitchen had more resources and a laundry room opened […] I figured at least by working there I could have a little bit more to feed my children.” | 
