It was a memorable and eventful year for the Warm Welcome Kitchen.
This past season saw the kitchen serve thousands of meals to the public. Along the way, it received tremendous support from the community, particularly in December, when an influx of donations allowed it to continue operating that month. A shortage of cash and some other issues left the kitchen thinking it would have to close in earlier than expected that month.
Also, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, they had to alter how they provide meals. They could no longer offer a sit-down meal at Trinity Lutheran Church or St. Giles Anglican Church that would attract at least 50 people most nights. So they moved to a pick-up service at the Estevan Salvation Army’s food bank, in which the kitchen supplied ingredients to people, who took them home and prepared supper.
The kitchen served about 15-25 people a day every Tuesday and Thursday through the new system.
“It was a good, convenient place, and the Salvation Army was gracious enough to help us out with that, and so we were thankful that we had that place to go to,” said kitchen board chair Wendy Godfrey.
The kitchen also extended their season a couple of times to continue operating until the end of June.
“We decided at the beginning of June that the end of June would be as far as we would go,” said Godfrey. “Our volunteers need a break. Christa (Jorgenson), our kitchen co-ordinator, she needs a break, and she has a family she has to tend to as well.”
People were very understanding that Warm Welcome hasn’t been able to offer its traditional sit-down meals.
“Everyone knows what is happening with COVID, and it was not possible for us to meet as a group, and so I think everyone was thankful that we found a way around it, and we didn’t have to cancel the program all-together,” said Godfrey.
The finances for the kitchen are in pretty good shape, thanks to the support they received just before Christmas. That support would have sustained the kitchen into July and August if they would have remained open.
The Subway restaurant on Kensington Avenue donated subs every Thursday that cut down on the kitchen’s expenses as well.
“Costs are a bit lower doing things the way we were doing them (the last three months), and we had help from the Salvation Army,” said Godfrey.
The kitchen is slated to resume on Oct. 6, but they don’t know whether they will continue to serve the pick-up meals at the food bank, or if they will be able to resume sit-down meals. Not only do they have to worry about restrictions from the provincial government, but the churches they partner with need to be open.
“We’ll follow whatever protocols are in place due to the pandemic. Whatever they tell us we’re allowed to do, that’s what we’re going to do. There is a possibility that we’ll still be handing out meals from the Salvation Army food bank in the fall,” said Godfrey.
If they are able to have sit-down meals, then it could mean they would need to cut down their capacity if the current restrictions remain.
