Serving a hot lunch to anyone in need, every day of the year, is at the heart of The Penticton Community Soupateria Society. And you might not know, the Soupateria, as it is affectionately known, was staffed entirely by an army of over 125 tireless, dedicated volunteers.
With the onset of the global pandemic and the resulting public health measures announced in March 2020 in response to COVID-19, the Soupateria was forced to shut down temporarily. After tremendous community response they re-opened with a skeleton crew of paid employees, shifting from a sit-down dining model to a take-away model, ensuring provincial health orders were being met.
First West Foundation through the Valley First, a division of First West Credit Union Community Endowment was pleased to partner with Soupateria and provided a $10,000 Community Response Fund grant earlier this year to help enable the Society to continue to provide essential community services for vulnerable residents of Penticton.
“A huge thank you to the First West Foundation for the grant of $10,000,” says David Northcott, Treasurer for The Penticton Soupateria Society. “Grants like yours from many community partners have allowed us to weather the storm.“
With a year of COVID-19 restrictions under their belt, Soupateria anticipates returning to their volunteer model by the end of September. They have weathered the storm, indeed.
With the onset of the global pandemic and the resulting public health measures announced in March 2020 in response to COVID-19, the Soupateria was forced to shut down temporarily. After tremendous community response they re-opened with a skeleton crew of paid employees, shifting from a sit-down dining model to a take-away model, ensuring provincial health orders were being met.
First West Foundation through the Valley First, a division of First West Credit Union Community Endowment was pleased to partner with Soupateria and provided a $10,000 Community Response Fund grant earlier this year to help enable the Society to continue to provide essential community services for vulnerable residents of Penticton.
“A huge thank you to the First West Foundation for the grant of $10,000,” says David Northcott, Treasurer for The Penticton Soupateria Society. “Grants like yours from many community partners have allowed us to weather the storm.“
With a year of COVID-19 restrictions under their belt, Soupateria anticipates returning to their volunteer model by the end of September. They have weathered the storm, indeed.