The Warm Welcome Kitchen is going to continue operating until the end of April, thanks to the response so far to its new format.
The kitchen has been providing simple meals that can be picked up and prepared since March 17. People drop by the north entrance of the Estevan Salvation Army’s food bank on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and are presented with the ingredients for the meal.
Previously the kitchen served a meal on Tuesday and Thursday nights that would attract around 50 people, but that system came to an early end this season due to COVID-19.
“Of course, we would rather be doing it the old way, but this new way seems to be working out,” said Wendy Godfrey, the chairperson for the kitchen’s committee.
“We’re feeding about 20 people each Tuesday and Thursday.”
She vowed they would serve as many people who come to the door.
The first couple of weeks in late March were considered a trial period. People seemed to be OK with picking up the ingredients at the food bank door.
So they will continue with the new format until the end of April, which is traditionally the end of their season.
“We met after the first two weeks to discuss what we thought of the program, and it seems to be running well. People who need the food are coming and getting the food.”
When she was there last week, the kitchen distributed a box of macaroni, some ground beef and a can of soup – ingredients that could be mixed together and cooked as a casserole.
The amount of food is dependent on the number of people in the household: a family would receive more than a single person.
The number of people who have accessed the Warm Welcome Kitchen since March 17 has been inline with expectations.
“Not everyone who came (under the old format) was there because they can’t afford a meal. Some people are hungry for conversation or just to be with other people, that kind of thing.”
Many of the clients have been out each time since March 17.
Kitchen co-ordinator Christa Jorgenson is there for each supper, and they still need a couple more volunteers.
There have been discussions about extending the kitchen beyond the end of April, but right now the plan is to end it at that time. They want to keep their volunteers safe, and Godfrey believes it’s important for people to stay home as much as possible.
