In a small building near downtown Hay River, a group of volunteers is fighting food insecurity one meal at a time.
Many different dishes, including Shake and Bake chicken with vegetables, sausage and noodle casserole and piles of bannock, fill the space three days a week.
The Hay River Soup Kitchen SA国际影视传媒� feeding people facing hard times for more than two decades SA国际影视传媒� is trying to accommodate increased demand as citizens grapple with the rising costs of food and other difficulties.
According to Michele Stephens, president of the Hay River Soup Kitchen, demand for food assistance initially began climbing after the 2019 Mackenzie Place highrise fire displaced about 150 residents, SA国际影视传媒渁nd itSA国际影视传媒檚 never really decreased.SA国际影视传媒�
The Covid-19 pandemic caused a further surge in demand for food assistance, SA国际影视传媒渁nd then, of course, we had the floods,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 just been one thing after another,SA国际影视传媒� continued Stephens. SA国际影视传媒淭he numbers are high, the price of food in town is high and thereSA国际影视传媒檚 hardship on people.SA国际影视传媒�
The Hay River-KSA国际影视传媒檃tlSA国际影视传媒檕deeche First Nation wildfire in May briefly disrupted service at the soup kitchen. When the evacuation order was issued, Stephens helped save perishable foodstuffs, towing them to safety in coolers, SA国际影视传媒渂ut weSA国际影视传媒檝e replenished, refilled and started again,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
After the hectic event, Stephens said sheSA国际影视传媒檚 SA国际影视传媒渞eady for a great big pile of boring.SA国际影视传媒�
The soup kitchen serves close to 130 people every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, she said.
The increased numbers reflect the national situation as inflation has CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 food banks straining under historically high demand that crested at almost 1.5 million visits in March 2022 SA国际影视传媒� up 35 per cent compared to pre-pandemic visits during the same month in 2019, according to a report from Food Banks Canada.
The soup kitchen is SA国际影视传媒渁lways looking for donations,SA国际影视传媒� said Stephens, SA国际影视传媒渂ecause money is tight, people are hungry and that doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 change.SA国际影视传媒�
The facility accepts both perishable and non-perishable items, in addition to clothing and hygiene products. It also oversees the communitySA国际影视传媒檚 food hamper program, in partnership with St. AndrewSA国际影视传媒檚 Anglican Church.
Donations can be dropped off at the soup kitchen, located at 67 Woodland Drive, next to Aurora Ford Hay River.
In addition, the institution is also SA国际影视传媒渁lways looking for volunteers,SA国际影视传媒� said Stephens.
All are welcome, no questions asked, though there is a particular decree to follow.
SA国际影视传媒淲e have one rule at soup kitchen,SA国际影视传媒� said Stephens. SA国际影视传媒淵ou need to be respectful. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 no screening. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 no registration, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 none of that. If you come and youSA国际影视传媒檙e hungry, you will be fed, provided youSA国际影视传媒檙e respectful.
In addition, to feeding the hungry, the non-profit organization has also been helping to protect and inform the public about opioid-related harms. In July, the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority hosted a Naloxone information session at the soup kitchen, where kits remain available for those in need.
SA国际影视传媒淲e educated a lot of people and gave out a lot of kits and supplies,SA国际影视传媒� said Stephens.
