Open Arms Café seeing more meal demand since The Gathering Place’s meal service decreased

A volunteer group in North Bay is filling in gaps by serving meals to the homeless and those living with food insecurity.

A volunteer-driven community food program in North Bay is noticing an increase in demand since the local soup kitchen was forced to reduce service.

The Open Arms Café said it’s filling in gaps to serve meals to the homeless, people who are living paycheque to paycheque and those who must choose between having a roof over their head or food in their tummy.

Serves at least 200 people per week

Founder Peggy Morrison recalls the idea originally came in the winter of 2012-2013 and stemmed from an outreach project called ‘Out of the Cold.’

Morrison said it did start small, but now, the team of volunteers is up to around 20.

Located inside St. John the Devine Anglican Church on Main Street, the community food program serves at least 200 hot, healthy meals every Wednesday afternoon and evening from 4-6 p.m.

“That challenge is increasing for every city, as we seem to have more and more people who are in need,” she said.

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Open Arms Café heavily relies on donations from other community programs and grocery stores.

“We get donations through the food rescue program, which operates out of The Gathering Place, and also Orchards Fresh Food Market is very generous in offering us fresh vegetables and fruit,” Morrison said.

It takes many hands to make light work of cutting up vegetables, cooking and getting the café ready serve the weekly meals.

“I do an awful lot of wrapping cutlery. I like that job and it’s easy,” volunteer Arline Heintz said.

“Then, when that’s finished, I help with whatever vegetables they have to prepare for the freezer.”

When volunteer Timothy Cassidy isn’t washing pots and pans, he’s often going out to collect donations.

He said people support the work the volunteers do and that’s why they continue to donate what they can.

“Peggy and I are here from 7 to 7 every Wednesday, so it really makes me feel good,” Cassidy said.

“It just makes me feel really good inside that I can contribute and help. It’s important, and it’s gotten more important as I got to know the people that come in.”

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Following The Gathering Place soup kitchen’s decision last year to lay off staff members and reduce the number of meals to five a week, one a day and at lunch only, the café’s volunteers know their work in helping fill that meal void is even more critical.

“Some of these people might only get a meal this way,” Heintz said.

Morrison said she is satisfied knowing her work to help North Bay’s vulnerable includes welcoming them to the church with open arms.