Success stretches resources of St. Catharines lunch program
The number of lunch guests has risen by 40 per cent in past year
THE POPULARITY of a lunch program, aimed at helping those in need in St. Catharines, is putting its future at risk.
For 29 years, the Ozanam Centre of St. Catharines has been serving up both lunch and friendship to those in need in the community.
Open Monday to Friday, from 11 a.m. to 12:45 a.m., the centre offers a nutritious and filling lunch to all who enter the door.
Dubbed the “$1 lunch” program, people are asked to donate $1 for their meal to help cover the costs associated with running the program. However, that request has never been strictly enforced and day after day, a steady stream of people make their way through the backdoor of the Knights of Columbus Hall on Church Street, down the few stairs and into the Ozanam Centre for lunch.
Over the course of the last year, the number of lunch guests has risen by 40 per cent, going from an average of 1,200 lunches served in June 2017 to 1,700 lunches served in the same month in 2018.
“We are the only lunch in town and there are a lot of people in need,” said Chuck Spry, program co-ordinator. “There are the regular people who have been coming here on a regular basis and a lot of new faces as well. Rent prices are going up around the city and life is becoming unaffordable for many.”
The lunch program offers people the chance to get a complete, nutritious meal. Diners need only sign in and then they receive a ticket which can be handed in for a lunch. On Wednesday, July 11, the offering included a bowl of soup, curry over rice, a roll, the option of coffee or tea, juice, a glass of water and dessert.
“It’s a filling meal,” said volunteer Michael Reece. “We want to ensure they’re getting at least one good meal a day.”
Run by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the program receives a modest budget each month courtesy of the funds raised through the society’s thrift store. Donations from the com-
munity help to supplement the program’s costs.
While monetary donations are always welcome, Spry said they welcome in-kind donations as well. Local stores like Sobeys and Costco have been great partners, as well as Club Roma, which regularly donates left over food items.
“We can make the donations stretch a long way,” said Spry. “But with the numbers increasing, it’s getting harder.”
Donations are drastically down and the cash flow for the program is depressed. In order to keep the program going, Spry estimates they’ll need to bring in an additional $1,000 a month in donations to offset food costs.
“We can make something out of nothing, we just need a bit of help,” he said, adding they’re not hurting for volunteers in terms of manpower. Just for donations.
Looking forward, Reece said they’ll also have to consider more strictly enforcing the $1 suggested donation from diners.
“It’s hard because these people are in need, so you don’t want to push them, but if we can’t cover costs the program might have to close and then there will be nowhere for them to go,” he said.
In recent months, Reece and Spry have launched a social media campaign to draw attention to the program, inviting high profile members of the community such as the mayor and members of St. Catharines Fire and Emergency Services out for a visit. Reece said while it’s been a good way to raise the program’s profile in the community, it’s done little in terms of garnering donations.
Donations can be accepted in person at the Ozanam Centre at 235 Church St. or online at www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/society-of-st-vincent-depaul-stfrances-of-rome-conference.
In addition to cash donations, canned goods and food donations are also accepted. Reece said people can also "pay it forward" by purchasing $1 meals for people in advance.
For more information, contact the centre at 905-687-8089 or through email, OzanamStC@gmail.com.