Soup for the Soul Program

Meal and Community Outreach Program

Soup for the Soul; working in partnership with other meal providers of Brantford, the homeless initiative, other churches, community groups and agencies to create better quality of life for all people.

GOOD NEWS! SPECIAL UPDATE!
Due to the tragic fire at St. Andrew's United Church, Soup for the Soul found a temporary home at Grace Anglican Church. But now that renovations are almost complete at St. Andrew's, we have been able to move the program back to it's original home within St. Andrew's on the lower level. This is also the place where the Sunday services are being held while the sanctuary is being completed! It is an exciting time for the community!  

Background

The Soup for the Soul Program has been operating on Tuesdays and Thursdays since November 1999. We serve 120 to 180 or more people at each meal. Patrons include youth under 16, seniors, aboriginal peoples, people with disabilities, the unemployed, the working poor, homeless and transient people. Out approach is holistic in nature and we offer non-judgmental care and support for the people who enter our doors.

Mission Statement

"To provide a safe, caring, trusting, inclusive and supportive environment where participants of all ages and faiths are nurtured and empowered through the benevolent, health and spiritual ministries of St. Andrew's United Church."

Goal

Our goal is to provide:

Basics

• a free, hot, nutritious meal (donations accepted)
• support for people looking for community
• provide a caring and supportive environment

Support

• resource information
• opportunity for networking and empowerment
• opportunity for support and encouragement
• opportunity for nurturing of youth

Advocacy

• to act as an advocate on behalf of the people we support in their dealings with Social Services and other community agencies

 Programs

• Meal Program - Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:30-6:00pm
• Youth and Family development program taking place - Tuesdays and Thursdays - March Break and Summer Camp
• Share the Warmth - assistance with utility and heating bills
• Benevolent - assistance with food vouchers, emergency situations, health, transportation
• Literacy - family centered assistance with literacy issues

 Resources

• St. Andrew's has funded the Tuesday and evening meals for the past three year. This includes space, heat, hydro, custodial services and staff
• Capital funds were raised through congregational donations, the City of Brantford, community foundations, the Salvation Army, and individual donors to upgrade the kitchen to meet health and safety standards. This work is continuing as the meal program increases in scope
• The Food Program has been operating on a 90% volunteer basis in terms of food preparation, distribution and clean-up
• Administration, policy decisions, youth programming activities, and other programs have been facilitated by the Staff
• Community partnerships have been developed with such organizations as the Brant County Health Unit, the Healthy Living Coalition, the Red Cross, the Legal Clinic, the Literacy Council, the Salvation Army, the Children's Aid Society, the Food Bank and many more are in the discovery phase
• The Community Support Committee is a group of volunteers and staff who direct the daily operations of the program, seek to improve the services offered and support the fundraising needs of "Soup for the Soul!"

Community Needs

As long as social assistance remains at its present low level and many of the new jobs being created are minimum wage jobs (often part-time), and government social agencies are not given the money to provide the proper support for people who are marginalized, there will be a need for ongoing and expanded food, housing, advocacy, and other community programs.

Once they pay for housing ($400 for an inexpensive one room apartment), the required 40 job searches a month ($50 minimum), basic telephone ($25), and two laundries a month ($10), a single person living on welfare ($520), has $35 or about $1 a day to cover clothes, personal hygiene products and food. It is just not possible.

A single parent with one child needs to earn $11.96 an hour, working full-time in Ontario, just to reach the poverty line. Two parent families must earn even more. However, 25% of all the jobs in Canada pay less then $10 an hour. If that parent is on social assistance, they would need to receive double what they are now receiving to reach the poverty line. It is no wonder that 20% of the children in Canada live in poverty.

People living on disability or government pensions also have a difficult time making ends meet.

Contact Soup for the Soul:

• Program Administrator - Rev. L Allan Lynk
• Meal Program Coordinator - Ron Wolosyn
• Youth and Family Support - Laura Cunningham
• Benevolent - Susan Soble
• Community Support Committee - Ron Wolosyn
• Building and Facilities - Ed Place

• 95 Darling St.
• Brantford, Ontario
• N3T 2K7
• Telephone (519) 752-5823
• Fax (519) 753 9944
• Email standrews@bfree.on.ca