Mission first, kitchen later! On February 1 - the coldest day yet this winter - All Saints' Waterloo had their first mobile truck humper day. This is how they are doing the program before it moves into the new church
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
John 6:35
By Rev. Marty Levesque
The heartbeat of so many houses emanate from the kitchen. The same is true for many Anglican congregations.
The old joke is if you feed them, they will come. So always make sure there is some food at each event, even if it is just muffins and coffee. Clergy are taught this in seminary. Well, maybe not formally, but it is sage advice. This makes the kitchen one of the most important rooms in any church.
All Saints Waterloo new church and community center’s kitchen will meet this internal need but also is purpose built to serve the neighbourhood.
This 500 square feet kitchen provides space and facilities for All Saints’ new weekly food distribution program that is part of the Community Food Assistance Network in the Region of Waterloo.
Each week, dozens of households will pass through the kitchen picking up fresh, frozen, and non-perishable food items. Healthy produce, frozen protein and non-perishables will be available weekly for those in need.
This program is launching now ahead of the completion of the new construction and All Saints will be making use of the Region of Waterloo’s mobile food pantry for now. Once construction is complete this program will transition seamlessly into the community center with all the necessary fridge and freezer storage capabilities.
From collective cooking classes to serving community food assistance network: the blueprint of All Saints' new kitchen
The kitchen will also support collective cooking classes for new Canada’s and supports larger catered events, whether that be a funeral reception, wedding reception or as an event space.
All Saints’ continues to dialogue with community partners about other uses for the kitchen and how best we can continue to serve the mission field.
Rev. Marty Levesque is the rector of All Saints', Waterloo.