Hot meal and blankets warm hearts of the needy

Photo by Troy Fleece, Leader-Post


Hot meal and blankets warm hearts of the needy
Veronica Rhodes
Leader-Post

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

More than one hundred people were a little bit warmer for Thanksgiving this year, thanks to seven-year-old Hannah Olfert.

On Saturday, the petite girl with bright blonde hair stood outside the Good News Chapel with her parents and younger sister Kamri handing out donated blankets. Hannah's mother Jennifer said just over a month ago, after discussing what homeless people did to keep warm in the winter, her daughter asked if they could give some blankets to people in need.

After sending an e-mail to a couple friends and family asking for blanket donations, the message was forwarded on to many and about 100 blankets were received. After donating 20 blankets to the Salvation Army in their hometown of Estevan, the family travelled to Regina on Saturday to hand out the rest at the Souls Harbour Rescue Mission's annual Thanksgiving dinner.

"She asked that we do this again next year. I don't think this will be just a one time thing," said Jennifer.

While the Olfert family handed out blankets as people were leaving, about 80 volunteers seated and served the roughly 640 people who came for the annual dinner, held in the basement of the chapel.

"Everyone can use a nice hot meal on a rainy day," Michael Cassano, president of the Regina Multicultural Council and volunteer at the dinner, said as he directed people towards empty seats at the long tables.

For the past four years, Souls Harbour Rescue Mission has partnered with Melrose Place North to provide the Thanksgiving meal to the poor and hungry in the community, with volunteer support coming from the council, the restaurant's staff, the mission's board and staff and numerous others from the community. Entertainment was provided by Canadian Idol finalist Matt Rapley, who performed in the chapel.

Michelle Porter, one of the founding directors of Souls Harbour Rescue Mission, expressed pride at how many people were helping out with the dinner in unexpectedly warm conditions after the boiler broke down earlier that morning.

"It is very surprising that so many people would do that ... That's 80 people who are choosing to have their dinner on a different day or perhaps this in lieu of their dinner. It's a gift for the poor, it really is," said Porter.

Each adult attending the dinner received a small pack of toiletries while children received a toy and a toothbrush. Porter said judging by the overwhelming response to the dinner, the community obviously appreciates it.

"If it didn't mean anything, they wouldn't come. So it obviously means that they need the meal (and) appreciate it. Nobody is eating and running ... They're staying, they're talking, they're laughing, they're getting signatures from Matt Rapley. It's fantastic," said Porter.

This year's meal consisted of baked rotini with alfredo sauce, homemade cream of mushroom soup, tossed salad with a bun and rice pudding for dessert. Melrose Place partners with Souls Harbour Rescue Mission to provide three meals throughout the year: Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.

"This is a way for us to give back to the community," said Melrose Place owner Chris Lygouriatis, between seatings for the meal.