Optimist club, local church partner to feed students
Soup for the soul
The Lindsay Optimist Club recently donated $4,000 to the Centre Community Church. The money will go towards the soup program their volunteers organize at King Albert Public School in Lindsay.
Every Friday members from the church make enough homemade soup for student and staff members at the school. “That’s well over 225 people that get soup,” said Darla McQuarrie, King Albert’s principal.
For some kids, having access to a warm meal can be the reason they go to school on a Friday. “This community has some food insecurities, so having this soup program just helps out our families a little bit,” said McQuarrie.
Any leftovers are sent home with the students. “We distribute (leftovers) to families. They take it home, and they have a nice, warm soup for dinner or maybe the next day,” said McQuarrie.
This is the second year the Optimist Club has supported this program. “It’s about working with the youth, encouraging youth, helping them grow so as they get older, they take an important place in their community and the surrounding areas. It’s our chance to give back to our community,” said Jim McKechnie, president of the Lindsay Optimist Club.
Rev. Mike Kleinhuis of the Centre Community Church is happy to be making a positive impact. His own children attended King Albert, and living in the neighbourhood he’s gotten to know other parents in the area. “You really get to know your neighbors,” he said.
The monetary donation will be used to fund the soup program for the entire year. “All of the money that comes in goes to the King Albert community and (we) make sure that it’s all food based,” said Kleinhuis.
After the soup is distributed, “we have a crew of kids that help Pastor Mike afterwards with the cleanup. They gather up all the all the dishes and the extra crockpots, and they’re thrilled to do that. There are so many kids that want that job,” said McQuarrie. “It speaks so well to the community that’s been built around this program, and the excitement that it brings.”
While it is still done far too often by far too many we never know about, trying to learn on an empty stomach can be painful. I applaud this initiative.
What a heartwarming story! The Centre Community Church is right around the corner from King Albert P.S., and church volunteers reaching out to nourish youngsters at the neighbourhood school is admirable. The Optimist Club recognizing the value of the program and providing financial support is equally admirable. Amidst so many saddening and distressing stories it’s good to have this reminder of community and caring.
Lots of time, effort, and love goes into making this happen, I’m sure. The volunteers deserve a round of applause. The kids love the soup and bread and it’s nice that it’s offered to the whole school and no one is single out. Amazing job all around!