The Elgin Street Mission dished up its one millionth meal, on Tuesday, Nov. 10, as it continued its 20-year effort to help the less fortunate in Greater Sudbury.
The recipient was Brenda Wills, a long time client and volunteer with the charity. She was pleased to be honoured with the plate of food.
“It feels good. I know a lot of hard work goes into (services provided by) the Mission.”
Summer cook Fran Soulliere, kitchen volunteer Shelley Belcher and Rose Gale, Mission administrator, dished up steaming plates of food to a full house at the Mission, located in the Samaritan Centre on Elgin Street.
But the charity is asking for community support to continue its work of sheltering and feeding the growing numbers of the needy, said Curtis Belcher, president of the Mission's board of directors.
He said he has organized a fundraising dinner for Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Hellenic Centre at 486 Ester Rd., located off Long Lake Road at the Four Corners. Tickets are $50 and are available by phone at 673-2163. Funds raised are to support the Mission staying open this winter, he explained. The goal is to raise $75,000.
He said the shelter expects up to 4,000 people requesting nightly assistance (10 p.m. to 6 a.m.) from November to March. That is up from 1,399 who used the over night service in 2006, he added.
“Four years ago, our government funding was cut. We are completely reliant on the community. We only get city funding if the temperature goes below -15 degrees Celcius. But that only occurs for 30 nights during the winter,” said Belcher.
“With the economic downturn, and our local economy suffering from labour disputes, the Elgin Street Mission has experienced a sharp rise in the public use of the facility,” explained Belcher.
“In particular, the number of children visiting the Mission is at an all time high. Many families in our area have been hit hard, and the Elgin Street mission has become the last line of defense between many people and homelessness.”
Other programs, such as the supper program, have seen a dramatic rise in the numbers of people being served, explained Belcher.
“In 2006, we served 42,594 supper-time meals. In 2009, (we expect) that number will balloon to over 50,000 supper-time meals.”
These numbers do not include breakfast meals, or late night meals and snacks, added Belcher.
“If we were to tally every meal served at the Elgin Street Mission over the course of 2009, that number would exceed 100,000.”
Community donations to the Mission have also declined this year.
“We need to raise $75,000 immediately if we are to continue with the level of service we have been providing, and keep our doors open during the winter.”
To help with the Mission with a donation or to get a ticket to the fundraising dinner, phone 673-2163.
