Soup kitchen in Nanaimo, B.C. celebrates new permanent home – BC
Vancouver Island charity celebrates after finally getting a new permanent home.
The work of Stone Soup Kitchen in Nanaimo, BC has never wavered, despite the lack of one key ingredient: a place to cook.
The project began five years ago, with Tanya and Doug Hiltz making sandwiches in a makeshift structure in their backyard. And it wasn’t easy to get to where it is now.
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« It took two years and three months in the making of this kitchen, » said Doug Hiltz.
« It’s like a burden is gone. »
This week, the Wisteria Community Association opened the doors to Stone Soup’s brand new location in Nanaimo: a commercial kitchen, complete with prep space.
Through it all, the charity has managed to reach out to the people it serves, operating seven nights a week and distributing hundreds of meals to homeless people in downtown and north Nanaimo.
Not having a home is something the Stone Soup Kitchen project can relate to.
Its original backyard location was eventually closed, when inspectors determined that the structure it operated from was not up to code and did not have a building permit.
He then started working in a rental kitchen and making deliveries from a van.
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Now the charity says securing a permanent location, where they can serve hot meals to those in need, is nothing short of inspiring.
Despite the new excavations, the daily challenge remains to keep the project going, through continued support in the form of food and donations – even occasionally from those the kitchen serves.
« Last night a guy walked up and handed me five dollars in change, » Hiltz said.
« (He) said, ‘Put it on the program because I know it comes right back into the food.' »
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