SooToday readers help buy 8,330 meals for the Soup Kitchen

Recently, SooToday's Kenneth Armstrong reported on how an increase in demand has resulted in bare shelves at the Sault Ste. Marie Soup Kitchen Community Centre, which provides lunch each day to countless community members in need.

SooToday wanted to help stock the shelves for the organization, which is facing an unprecedented need for food donations.

Our team sprung into action and set up a meal drive fundraiser on SooToday where our loyal readers could purchase an individual or family of four a meal for a week, month or year, with donation options ranging from $13.75 to $2,640.

We set a goal of buying 1,000 meals for the centre, with SooToday matching the first 960 meals purchased.

The response was overwhelming. In just 14 days, we collectively raised over $22,900 for the Soup Kitchen, which translates to 8,330 meals donated!

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported this initiative and a special thanks to the purchasers of the biggest ticket item: meals for a family of four for a year. S&T Group, GFL Environmental, Chris Dovigi and a generous anonymous reader each donated $2,640 to ensure a local family isn’t without food.

All funds raised go directly to the Soup Kitchen and the meals they prep for Saultites in need each day.

If you haven’t had a chance to contribute yet but would like to buy a meal (or many!) for people who access the Soup Kitchen services, click here to support the meal drive. You can make a donation for the centre until September 29, 2023 at 12 p.m.