Heather Latter
The Community Development Class at Confederation College here is getting residents on board to help support the Loaves and Fishes community kitchen at the New Beginnings Fellowship.
“One of the main reasons is their funding has been completely cut,” noted student Harvey Jolicoeur, referring to why they chose the community kitchen to support.
“They need all the help they can get,” he stressed.
As an assignment, the class was asked to work together to develop a community initiative.
They all agreed supporting the community kitchen was a worthwhile cause.
The Community Kitchen—also known as the soup kitchen—runs Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, with lunch served from noon-12:20 p.m.
“We don’t just serve soup,” noted kitchen co-ordinator Joy Lockman.
“So we’re slowly trying to change it to be called the community kitchen and trying to put that word out there,” she explained.
“And maybe there won’t be that stigma for some people and they might come out to it more.”
Lockman said there used to be funding from the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board, but it no longer is available.
“I know people thought we were going to close when the funding wasn’t there,” she remarked.
“But we talked about it and prayed about, and decided it’s just something we are going to continue on with.”
“They are running solely on donations,” noted student Tori Sikora.
“They are open to everybody—they don’t turn anyone away from their door,” said fellow student Mary Wood, adding with more than 30 mouths to feed daily, the need is there.
Lockman said currently they’re preparing food for 30 people each day, but they are looking at increasing the quantity as more and more are stopping in for a meal.
“The numbers have been going up, which happens quite regularly in the springtime,” she noted.
“People are more mobile and they can get out,” she reasoned, saying one fellow comes on his bike and hasn’t missed many days—even when it’s been cold.
In the summer, the numbers get even higher to upwards of 45. And they sometimes get families coming then.
“They are getting a hot meal,” said student Leslie Mortimer.
“So instead of going to the food bank to get food to make your meal, it’s already prepared.”
“And it’s more than just a soup kitchen,” stressed Sikora.
“You’re not just getting soup. They make big, hearty meals.”
“A lot of them are guys that come out—not all by any stretch—and they tend to not cook healthy for themselves, so this is one thing we try to do is have nutritious hot foods,” Lockman said.
“And there is a bit of community going on, too,” added Wood.
“For some people, that might be the only social networking they do.”
For their part, the class enlisted the help of local schools and businesses to help support the growing need at the community kitchen.
At J.W. Walker and Robert Moore, for instance, there will be a food drive while loose change jars have been set up at many businesses.
Fort Frances High School is doing both a food drive and a change drive.
Lockman provided the college class with a list of needed items, which it is passing along to parents and the business community.
“They are looking for things in larger quantities because opening 12 cans of chicken noodle soup doesn’t work for them,” Wood explained.
That’s why Lockman said monetary donations are especially helpful because she tends to buy items in bulk.
But food donations are helpful, too.
“They are looking for larger sizes of things—pasta, beans, rice,” noted Sikora.
“We just want to stock the shelves,” Wood said. “Any little bit we can do to help . . . is better than nothing at all.”
A large part of the initiative by the Community Development class has been creating awareness of the community kitchen.
“Letting people know there is a need and make them aware of the [kitchen] because not everyone knows its there,” said Sikora, adding several students indicated they hadn’t heard about it prior to working on the project.
“It benefits the community but it also involves the community,” Wood reasoned.
She noted some of the businesses said they would be making their own donations to the Community Kitchen while others even provided “prizes” for the elementary students helping out.
“We are planning to reward the children for their efforts,” said Woods, noting they collected gift certificates from local businesses.
“Our plan is to help put everything away,” added college student Phoebe-Ann Firth, saying they aren’t just going to drop off the donations and leave.
They also plan to count all the change that is donated, as well.
The college students will be picking up and delivering the donations this Friday.
“Hopefully, other classes in the years to come will take it on and do it every year—or at least every other year,” Sikora said.
The class, meanwhile, noted it’s pleased with the support from the community.
The students added Confederation College has been very helpful in printing letters and posters that they took around to businesses.
“So it really is a whole community thing,” said Firth, noting it also has taught the college students about working together as a team toward a common goal.
“It’s neat to see everyone doing their own part and it all coming together in the end,” echoed Mortimer, adding they’ve been meeting weekly to update everyone on the project.
Also involved in the project are Aimee McEvoy, Brittany Hyatt, Carly Pruys, and Jordan White.
For her part, Lockman is thrilled by all the support—from the college students and the community.
“We’re very grateful and feeling really blessed by the community and the support we’ve got,” she enthused.
She noted they often get vegetables from Gerbers’ farm, as well as from other people’s gardens.
They also are supported by the United Native Friendship Centre here.
Plus, they have lots of volunteers right now, which Lockman is grateful for.
And with the support they’ve been receiving with donations of money and food, Lockman said the community kitchen is doing really well right now.
“We just want to thank the community for stepping up and helping out,” Firth said.
