The Wiarton Community Outreach Program says it continues to grow as the Town recently awarded it a grant to continue its work.
A delegation to council January 16th, by Tess Ayles and Ina Bentley outlined the work the small volunteer group does. They told council they serve food to those in need and also deliver meals to people in the community who need them.
They’ve been operating out of the Green House in Wiarton every Monday and Wednesday for nearly a year now.
They say in the past 11 months, they’ve served 1,538 meals, noting they served 40 people in the community Christmas Day meals.
“Which really said to us there is a need, because those 40 people wouldn’t have had Christmas otherwise,” says Ayles.
She told council the hope is to do the Coldest Night of the Year walk in the community next year to raise money for the outreach program, and she’d also like to set up a warming centre in Wiarton.
Ayles says the food they serve is often donated through OSHaRE, the volunteers themselves and the Salvation Army.
The group began with five members, and according to the delegation, has now grown to 20.
Council approved a $3,000 grant for the outreach program for supplies and food for meals.