Government adds money to a soup kitchen pot

Finally a use for government funds that few can argue with. A press release out of Prince Rupert today has announced that the Government of Canada is providing the Annunciation Soup Kitchen with 14,940 dollars to be put toward providing hot meals for the city's less fortunate who have come to rely on the kitchen as a reliable place for a good hot meal.

The money will also allow for repairs to the roof and entrance way and help to maintain the furnace system providing a warm environment for the kitchen's clients. On any given Sunday anywhere between 85 to 100 people and sometimes more take up the offer of a free hot meal. Providing a much needed place for the city's homeless and those on fixed incomes to at least receive a nourishing meal.

It's but a small step in the bid to create a better environment for those with few means, clearly there's much more than can and should be done in the community, but credit where credit is due, at least its something to begin with.

The full details on the grant and what the Government's homelessness program is all about can be found on the official Government website. And we provide it below..


MP Richard Harris announces funding in Prince Rupert to help feed the city's homeless

PRINCE RUPERT, BRITISH COLUMBIA, February 1, 2007 - Richard Harris, MP Cariboo-Prince George, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development , announced $14,940 for the Annunciation Church Soup Kitchen project in Prince Rupert.

"Canada's New Government is working to ensure funding is available for projects like this one, to address the challenges of homelessness in communities across the country," said Mr. Harris. "Today, I am pleased to announce this project which will provide homeless individuals in Prince Rupert with support and free hot meals every Sunday."

This funding will be provided to the Roman Catholic Episcopal of Prince Rupert's Annunciation Church, to ensure 85-100 clients in-need can receive a hot meal service each week in the church's soup kitchen. In addition to purchasing food and kitchen supplies, the church will use the funding to repair the roof and entrance of the soup kitchen facility, as well as to maintain the furnace system to provide clients with a warm environment.

"The Annunciation Church is proud to work in partnership with the Government of Canada and the Roman Catholic Episcopal of Prince Rupert to assist those most in need in our community," said Honesto Leonin, Soup Kitchen Coordinator. "The services we offer here are meant to provide the immediate necessities for homeless people, and help them to break out of the cycle of homelessness."This project has been developed in consultation with the community and various stakeholders. The project addresses one of the priorities of the Prince Rupert Steering Committee on Aboriginal Homelessness - to enhance the meal programs for homeless people and those at risk of homelessness in Prince Rupert.

The funding is a part of the Government of Canada's Urban Aboriginal Homelessness Initiative.
In December 2006, Canada's New Government launched the new Homelessness Partnering Strategy. For more information on this announcement, please visit http://www.homelessness.gc.ca/.

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