Children among the requlars Park site of soup k By CRIS LEYKAUF THEY WAIT every Satur- day aftemoon. A family sits on the edge ofa picnic (able, with soup bowls in their hands. Chil- dren, many without parents, chase each other around the lawn, some hopping with impatience. They’re gathered in a corner of Lower Little Park, waiting for folks from the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Every. Saturday aflernoon for a year now the church has held a soup kitchen in the park. In the winter the volunteers use the shelter of the bandshell and often have to clamber over snowbanks, toting soup pots, chairs and bins of food. But even with our chilly winters the church only let weather shut down the soup kitchen a few times last winter. “Sometimes there are 20 or 30 people waiting when we get here,” says volunteer Donna Deguire. ‘The church decided to start up the soup kitchen in September last year as a way to reach out to people in the community. ‘4 lot of people in the community are lonely,’ says Deguire. ‘‘This is a way to brighten up their day some way.” ‘Depending on the weather, volunteers from the church wili feed 60-70 people in an afternoon. ‘A home-made vegetarian soup is always on the menu, along with buttered bread — donated from Fairhaven bakery, a Seventh Day Adventist-owned — business in Kitwanga. Tim Horton and Robin’s Donuts also donate boxes af donuts. ‘ Occasionally someone from he church will make. another, dish, such Depending on the weather there’s also juice or bot chocolate. Before the soup gets dis- h,, such as salad. The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, October 15, 1997 - A3 RON DAME serves up a hot bow! of black bean soup. He's one of the regular volunteers at the Seventh Day Adventist church soup kitchen, at George Little park. The soup kitchen just celebrated its ane year anniver- sary. Volunteers dish out soup, bread, do 2-2:30 p.m. as the days start to shorten. nuts and hot chocolate every Saturday afternoon around 3 p.m., and During the winter you'll find them in the bandshell. The church is hoping to find a building downtown to hold the soup kitchen in during the winter, as it can get pretty chilly. hed out, thanks is given. The volunteers don’t ask any questions of the people who come for the soup. “There’s always somie- body whe takes advantage,” admits Ella McCleilon, an- other volunteer. ‘But we don’t judge people. If they come to us we feed them.”’ parents, "One boy comes from Thornhill on his bike,’’ says volunteer Delphine Dame. *‘He makes a special effort to come down there.” Some of the children just happen upon the soup kitch- en as they wander through the park. Others however, We don’t judge people. if they come to us, we feed them.” “A lot of people who come are just amazed and thankful; adds~ Deguire:~ "Some you.can tell they're. really hungry,’’ . Among the hungry ones are children, some who come down without their Now’s the time to make your move on an Arctic Cat® That's because if you buy a new ‘98 Cat™ You'll get $200 in Cat Cash™ to use for quality Arcticwear® clothing, and genuine Arctic Cat parts and accessories. We also have great financing options you won't want to miss. And with one full lineup of Arctic Cat sleds, you're sure to find the machine you want. But you'd better hurry because deal stick around for long. You only have until Oct . 30, 1997 4921 Keith Ave., Terrace, B.C.” 1 SALES; GREG DELARONDE & Jl Phone 635-3478. tt s like these won't What Snowmobilings All About: Always wear a helmet and don’t drink and side. © 1997 Arctic Cot Soles Inc, Trademarks of Arctic Cal Inc., Thief River Falls, MN 56701 (218) 681-4999 are regulars. “The kids that come down here, you know their family, ‘situation “isn’t ‘good? says Dames" i Volunteers often hand out bread and donuts after the soup kitchen, for those who want to take extra food home. “One boy takes bread home for bis family. Just as proud atid happy as can be, that he’s helping out,’” says Dame. She says it’s hard some- times for the church volunteers 1o tell if the chil- dren come to the soup kiich- en for the food, the com- panionship, or both. ‘Tf a child can come here and see there are people in the world who care about him, that may have quite an effect on him in hatter years,” says Dame. “You can‘have:a’ pretty: profound effect on kids.i:-without saying'a'word.” One regular young visitor she describes as having, ‘an cinptiness in his eyes.”’ She knows the boy’s mother has tried to commit suicide, and Dame admits to a sense of helplessness at not being able to do more. Word has gotten around town about the soup kitch- en, and that it’s a good place. But if the government ministries, such as the chil- dren and families ministry, were to get involved, Dame wonders if people would fcel comfortable coming to the soup kitchen. Somelimes the poor don’t trust ihe government. ‘The. soup ‘kitchen. has a: - focus which Dame thinks” | the church should stick With — feed the hungry and pro- vide companionship ta the lonely. News In Brief School head resigns GEORGE NEUMANN, chair of the Coast Mountain School district, has resigned for health reasons. Neumann was the first chair of the new school dis- trict, which combines Terrace and Kitimat, Vice-chair Roger Leclerc will take over as board chair until the Dec. 3 board meeting, when trustees will clect a new head and vice-chair. Neumann will continve his duties as trustee until Oct, 31. Neumann brought extensive experience to the board — a total of 40 years in public education as teacher, principal of Mount Elizabeth Secondary School and chair of the Kitimat school board. - Frank Hamilion, superintendent of the Coast Mountain district, thanked Neumann for his contribu- tion to education. There’s no immediate word on when a by-election will be held. Liberals heading north PROVINCIAL LIBERALS, who want to bolster their support outside of the lower mainland and the south, are flooding the north this week. Four Liberal MLAs are coming to the northwest while others are fanning out in other areas. Ida Chong, Liberal house leader Gary Farrell-Collins, ‘Colin Hansen and Barry Penner are visiting Prince Rupert, Port Edward, Terrace, Kitwanga and Kitimat today until Friday. They'll be meeting a number of groups, including lo- cal creditors of Skeena Cellulose. All of the MLAs and party leader Gordon Campbell will take part in a video news conference Friday. Provincial Liberals anticipate a breakthrough in the north now that Peace River MLA Richard Neufeld, elected last year as a Reformer, has crossed over to their ranks. Assault with bat AGROUP OF youths allegedly looking for revenge at- tacked a man with a baseball bat last week. Police say a young adult was apparently assaulted by a Scott St. resident on the evening of Oct. 8, The youth returned to the home just after midnight Oct. 9 with a group of three or four other male youths. They knocked on the door and when the occupant answered, one of the youths hit him with a baseball bat. The youths fled and the occupant gave chase, Anoth- . er assault then took place outside the home. Terrace RCMP are asking anyone with any infonna- tion on this matter to call Crimestoppers or Cst. M.A. Hacker at 638-7400. He’s the premier’s man IVAN THOMPSON, a development consultant fom Smithers, will moderate the Premier’s summit on northem jobs and development Oct. 27-29 in Prince George. Economic development and jobs creation are on the’ agenda. Delegates include business, labour, com- munity, youth and First Nations representatives. 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