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Comox Valley soup kitchen heads outside for summer, as church undergoes renos

Simms Park in Courtenay to be used by Sonshine Lunch Club three times a week
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The long-awaited renovation has begun at St.George’s United Church in Courtenay. This includes updating the kitchen and the washroom area; areas that are used every weekday by the Sonshine Lunch Club.

This means that the Sonshine Lunch Club will be relocated for the duration of the renovation. Last week, the SLC scrambled to find a location that could accommodate the soup kitchen for three months. Thankfully, the City of Courtenay agreed to the use of Simms Park (over the 5th Street Bridge). Two of the downtown churches, St. George’s and St. John the Divine, will serve lunches from the front of their respective churches. Monday, Tuesday and Friday groups will serve lunches at Simms Park between 11:30 and 12:30. Volunteers are working hard to find ways to prepare a bag lunch that has variety and nutrition.

ALSO: Courtenay council approves $25,000 for Sonshine Club renos

St. George’s church has been the home of the soup kitchen since 1996, when Archie Forrest started a soup and sandwich twice a week “to feed the hungry, to give drink to the thirsty.” Since that time, the soup kitchen has prepared 100-150 meals in this facility every weekday. That is a lot of ‘wear and tear’ for a kitchen that was never designed for the use of large groups. It had begun to show the dire need for updating.

The plans for the reno include a new kitchen that meets standards of the Health Authority and a completely new washroom area that has wheelchair access. Work began Monday, June 3.

Several grant applications have been successful – Rick Hansen Foundation, Ministry of Social Development and Innovation, Comox Valley Community Foundation, Courtenay Rotary Club, the City of Courtenay, the Comox Firefighters’ Association, First Credit Union, St. Georges’ United Church, St. Vincent de Paul, Knights of Columbus and CV Regional District. Several private donors have also generously donated; all of which has provided the funding for this major project.

As one of the major user groups of the kitchen/ hall at St. Georges, the SLC Board agreed to raising $30,000 towards the “reno fund.” The SLC Board would like to thank all those who have already donated to this most worthwhile project.

However, at this time, there remains a shortfall of the funds pledged to the renovation. We appeal to the community - businesses, service clubs, individuals to contribute to a project that is going to benefit the care of the poor and marginalized of our community today and in the future.

Cheques payable to the Sonshine Lunch Club may be mailed or dropped off to St. George’s Church, 505 6th Street, Courtenay V9N 1M5. Please mark your cheques “Reno fund.”