Every Tuesday and Thursday Warm Welcome Kitchen keeps supporting the community by providing hot suppers to everybody who needs them.
In an interview with Southeast Lifestyles, the kitchen co-ordinator Christa Jorgensen noted that January went really well for them. Surprisingly, the brutally cold weather that Estevan witnessed last week didn’t bring in more people.
“On Tuesday our numbers were the lowest they ever were. And it was right back up to usual on Thursday,” said Jorgenson.
Christmas was great for donations and support but now, when all holidays are far-gone, the Warm Welcome Kitchen could use some help.
“We always could use a couple more volunteers, because a couple is heading back to B.C. to go tree planting, so it would be great to have more volunteers, and let the other ones that are working at the Warm Welcome Kitchen a break as well. Volunteers are always needed,” Jorgenson said.
Usually, Jorgenson is the only one to cook supper for about 50 people. She has one or two people come out to help her with serving and cleaning.
“We serve everybody there, and we give everybody forks and knives and plates, and everything needs to be cleaned up. Then teas, and waters and make sure there is coffee,” she explained.
In December the Warm Welcome Kitchen served hot suppers and drinks to 341 people. Depending on the time of the year, the general economic situation and many other variables their numbers slightly change, but it’s important to know that even if life becomes tough there is a place where anybody can get a hot meal.
“It’s always nice to come out if you ever needed a meal or your budget is a little bit skimp that week, come over and have a meal too. And that’s the thing, just getting people to come out that really need it, struggling that week. (Getting them to know that) there are at least two meals that they can be attending and enjoying a hot supper and stretching their budget a little bit further,” said Jorgenson.
The Warm Welcome Kitchen serves supper 5:30-6:30 at St. Giles Anglican Church every Tuesday and at Trinity Lutheran Church every Thursday.
To keep this schedule going they are constantly seeking volunteers and donations, to make sure they have enough funds to keep going, Warm Welcome Kitchen plans to soon have a fundraiser.
Jorgenson says, “I hope everybody will participate and will help out with our Warm Welcome Kitchen to keep it running.”
