Our Vision and Mission Statements
As an organization, we seek to work toward the alleviation of local/area food security. We recognize that there are hurting people in our community struggling with mental health issues, addictions, homelessness & poverty. We seek to provide services in such a way that is respectful and honors the dignity of the individual. We will do this by providing wholesome & nutritious meals to our homeless neighbors who are experiencing many challenges,
We also seek to distribute food to many different organizations in our city. Our approach is also to provide public education/media awareness through presentations on Poverty, Addiction & Homelessness.
As an organization our mission is to share the love of Jesus with our homeless neighbors by providing them with hot/nutritious meals.
The Lethbridge Soup Kitchen receives food donations from these and many more!
Food Donors
- 4H Beef Club
- A&W
- Ben’s Quality Meats
- Bishops’ Storehouse
- Bootsma Bakery
- Bread Milk & Honey
- Broxburn Vegetables & Cafe
- Cavendish Farms
- Cobs Bread
- Costco
- Crystal Springs Dairy Company
- Cuppers Coffee & Tea
- El Greco Cuisine
- Fairwinds Farm
- Founders Cafe & Bakery
- Grammie’s Little Bakery
- Hutterite Colonies
- LA Chefs Catering & Events
- Lethbridge Food Market
- Little Caesars Pizza
- Rivaaz Indian Pizza & Cuisine
- Rogers & Lantic Sugar
- Safeway South
- Safeway West
- Save-On-Foods
- Sobeys
- The Salvation Army
- Tim Hortons (13 St N)
- Tim Hortons (Scenic)
- Tortilla Mexicana
Organizations we share food with
- Alberta Food Rescue and Distribution
- BGC Canada
- Coaldale Food Bank
- Immanuel Christian School
- Indigenous Recovery Centre
- Interfaith Food Bank
- Island Lake Bible Camp
- Joyful House of Prayer
- Left Overs
- Lethbridge Christian School
- Lethbridge College
- Lethbridge Food Bank
- My City Care
- Nanton Food Bank
- Nicholas Sheran School
- Nord-Bridge Seniors Centre
- R-space
- Safe Families
- Senator Buchanan
- Senior Homes: Haig, Halmrast, Hardie, Castle
- Shaughnessy Centre
- Soup Bowl
- Southern Community Food Security
- SuperLodge
- Teen Challenge Canada — Alberta Men’s Centre
- The Veterans Association Food Bank
- Youth One
*Thanks also to our many donors—both individual and corporate—who prefer to remain anonymous.
Our Board of Directors
We are very fortunate to have an active and engaged volunteer Board of Directors who serve faithfully from year to year.
John Van Dyk
President
Noreen Fawcett
Treasurer
Carmen Van Dyk
Secretary
Bonnie Chartier
Director
Colin Froese
Director
Gary Giesbrecht
Director
Our Staff Team
| Name | Position(s) |
|---|---|
| Bill Ginther | Executive Director |
| Ellis Veenendaal | On-Site Director |
| Kay Crittenden | Meal Coordinator |
| Al Nelson | Meal Coordinator |
| Amy Kreft | Meal Coordinator |
| Ida Waldner | Meal Coordinator |
| Carolynn Viau | Meal Coordinator |
| Jackie Kienen | Meal Coordinator |
| Anita Braun | Meal Coordinator |
| Bonnie Chartier | Meal Coordinator |
| Lena Derksen | Meal Coordinator |
| Maggie Chueng | Meal Coordinator |
| Karen Lamb | Meal Coordinator |
| Tina Froese | Foods Coordinator |
| Abby Johnson | Meal Coordinator/Security |
| Meaghan Galanopoulos | Security |
| Olivia Barnes | Security |
| Gill Singh | Security |
| Devang Sharma | Security |
| Dietmar Gerst | Security |
| Dallas Blassetti | Security |
| Peter Deys | Security |
| Stuart Hill | Security/Driver |
| Justin Parker | Bag Check Security/Driver |
| Stan Bosma | Janitor |
| David Aloysius | I.T./Maintenance |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many meals do you serve?
We serve 3 hot meals per day every day except Sunday. On Sunday, we serve brunch and supper. That equals 20 meals per week.
Are you ever closed?
We never take a day off! The basic human need of sustenance and care is so important that we stay open every day, including all holidays.
Is all your food donated?
The majority of our food is donated by several grocery stores, warehouses, Hutterite colonies, churches and workplaces and individuals.
What do you need money for if all food is donated?
We still need to pay for our utilities, wages for our meal coordinators, security staff, drivers and janitors. We also use funds to repair and maintain all our equipment in the kitchen, and our vehicle (which we use to pick up daily donations). And we also buy our own paper products and cleaning supplies.
Is there an age limit?
Children under 12 are welcome to help us in the kitchen. Serving in the dining room is for those 13 and over.
How many adults need to be in our group?
Please have 1 adult for every 5 youth.
What should I wear?
We ask that you wear comfortable, modest clothing for your volunteer shift.
Where should I park?
Park on 7th St. Angle parking is available across the street by the brown fence.
Our Organization’s History
The Lethbridge Soup Kitchen has been serving meals to guests for the past 39+ years and will continue to do so as long as there is a need. We are blessed to have a great core of volunteers from many churches and service clubs in Lethbridge and surrounding area, many of which have served for as long as we have been in existence. We have upwards of 800 volunteers representing all ages and walks of life. We are also very grateful to our many suppliers, who provide us with most of the supplies we need to prepare the meals we serve. We are always amazed at how caring and supportive our community is and how willing they are to donate items for as many years as they have – a BIG thank you goes out to all of them! We are also blessed to have the support of numerous churches that have placed us in their annual budget and contribute a designated amount on a regular basis. We are also amazed at how often we receive unsolicited donations from volunteers and members of the general public. Gifts such as these ensure our continued operation and ability to serve those in need in our community.
