Roger Warren toils away as part of the volunteer brigade that works behind the scenes on the bi-weekly Mount Pearl Community Supper program. Submitted Photo
By Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Tyler Waugh
The Mount Pearl Community Supper Program fed an average of 300 people twice a month last year, and organizers are looking for financial support as they expect higher demand, and costs, may be on the menu.
Scott Hillyer, who founded the program in 2019 and runs it in cooperation with an interfaith coalition of seven churches and a couple dozen devoted volunteers, said he wouldn’t be surprised if the number of people served climbs closer to 350.
“My biggest fear is this year we are going to feed more than 300 because of the economy – the cost of gas, the cost of groceries, the cost of everything has gone through the roof. If the need goes to 350 then we’ll try to push it to 350. We’re not sure if we’re going to be able to cook that much in the limited space and limited time that we have, but we’re going to try,” Hillyer said. “We’re going to see after the first few meals what the need is and evaluate moving forward what capacity we have.”
Hillyer said feeding 300 people regularly last year cost around $700 per night, on average, and that each service was sponsored by either a local company or a collection of smaller individual donations. Hillyer said economic uncertainty and inflation may drive not only increased demand for the program but also increased costs for supplies.
Sponsorship commitments were behind schedule, so he put out a call on Facebook on August 30, resulting in six responses within a couple days. It was a good start, and he believes the support will come.
“It’s the first year we’ve entered the start of the year without a full list of sponsors lined up. It’s a challenging time for businesses, and I get it, our business is feeling it as well,” Hillyer said. “Thankfully we had some funds in reserve to get started, but there was a time when we thought we might have to cut back to once a month. We’re not saying the program was in jeopardy, but it’s always concerning to start up before the money is in place.”
Last year’s takeout meals were all sponsored, either by companies or service groups that covered an entire meal, or a collection of smaller donations that were pooled together to fund the meal. Hillyer said that companies are acknowledged as meal sponsors and that, sometimes, they bring employees to participate as a community and team building exercise.
Hillyer said local grocers including Sobeys, Costco and TDA have been supportive of the program and allow them to bulk buy. The food is prepared by volunteers who were selected and trained by Hillyer, since the program operates under his company’s licencing, with prep starting as early as 10 a.m. that day.
Other volunteers are organized through whichever church is acting as host that particular night based on a rotating schedule.
He said the collective, non-denominational effort is to provide meals that satisfy the needs of many – whether they be working poor, people on fixed income and others – without judgement.
“Some days we see moms with small kids lining up right after school so that they are sure to get the hot meal. It’s heartwarming to hear a child talking about it like it’s a takeout restaurant, see them treating it like it’s a restaurant meal,” Hillyer said, adding they usually have a little loot bag ready for children as well. “And we have seniors that are so appreciative that say there’s enough there to turn it into two meals. We always provide something nutritious and they’ll tell us it’s better than just having their tea and toast. There are so many rewarding moments with this program.”
The first community meal of the year was Sept. 9 at the Church of the Ascension.
Hillyer said if support keeps trending in the right direction the program will continue to run every two weeks until June.
Takeout service runs 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
If you’re interested in sponsoring the program, you can email scott@coffeematters.ca
Charitable receipts are available.