The Portage la Prairie Soup Kitchen has a new name. Now operating as the Highway Community Kitchen, the local non-profit continues to serve full meals to those in need three days a week out of Highway Pentecostal Church. Co-coordinator Carol Lang explains that the changes were made in December when a new team took over for the year-old operation.
"There was a change-up with who was coordinating the kitchen. When we took over, we changed the name.
The transition required a brief pause in service, but the kitchen has since reopened and is once again serving meals to the community.
Keeping up with demand
Roughly 40 people come through the kitchen's doors each day they are opened, with numbers shifting depending on the time of the month and the availability of government benefits. Operating entirely on community support and charitable donations, Lang says keeping up with costs and finding steady funding are ongoing challenges.
“We’ve always run strictly off of donations, from various businesses and the public,” she notes. “We apply for grants as well, but there’s no financial support from the government or anything like that.”
Food donations are also welcome. Last year, local colonies, farmers, and residents provided fresh food, especially in the summer months.
“We got a lot of donations from farmers and people who planted more than they needed, which was wonderful,” she says. “We're hoping that that will happen again this year, but there are still other things we require to run. Soap for the dishwasher, for instance, and those little expenses add up."
A growing need
Lang says the kitchen serves seniors, families with children, and people of all backgrounds. She believes many community members may not realize how many are secretly battling with food insecurity.
“People don't realize the situation until they are in that situation themselves,” she adds. “All donations help, whether they are small or large. It's worthwhile to help feed the community.”
Highway Community Kitchen accepts any non-expired, non-perishable food. Lang says canned tomatoes and soups are helpful, and due to limited cold storage, they are unable to take in milk or ice cream.
Reaching out
Located at 1680 Saskatchewan Ave. West, the Highway Community Kitchen is currently open from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. However, coordinator Lang is optimistic that with increased funding and volunteer support, these hours could eventually be extended.
“We're hoping that as we get going, with more funding and volunteers, we could be open five days a week,” she says.
For those interested in learning more or getting involved, Lang and the Highway Community Kitchen can be contacted at 204-872-3314 or through their Facebook page.
In a recent effort to build broader community connections, the kitchen also reached out to local businesses to reintroduce its mission and request support.
“We sent out donation requests about a month ago to around 80 businesses in Portage. If you received one, we kindly ask you to take another look and consider supporting us as you plan your charitable giving.”
With the community’s help, the Highway Community Kitchen hopes to continue growing its impact, one meal at a time.