There was a unanimous feeling of joy at the Warrior’s Song Cafe in Quesnel on Wednesday, Dec. 8.
It was the first day of operations at the Salvation Army soup kitchen and food bank following a three-week closure.
Temporary community and family services worker Nicole Audet smiled behind her face mask with Kathy Kortzman as they handed out bagged lunches and coffee.
Earlier, they had helped unload 860 pounds of non-perishable food donated by Arrow Transportation that also provided $500 to the local Breakfast Club.
Last month Arrow Transportation employees contributed to hampers in exchange for entries into a large company-wide prize draw, said division manager Steve Williams.
“I think it’s a great cause,” he added, noting staff have provided donations for hampers in the past.
“It’s something we’ve been doing for a while.”
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Audet had previously worked in Vernon at the North Okanagan Community Chaplaincy, where she helped operate a weekend soup kitchen.
She agreed to take on the temporary position, allowing the Warrior’s Song Cafe to return after a vaccine mandate had disrupted services as of Nov. 15.
“It’s been an incredible experience,” Audet said of her second day. “It’s great to see a community that gives back as much as it does.”
During the temporary closure, several not-for-profit groups stepped up to provide food access to those in need and continue to make up community hampers.
At the Warrior’s Song Cafe, Audet said they are currently in need of cranberry sauce, canned fruit, rice, potatoes, baking supplies and even ham that they hope to add to their bonus hampers for Christmas.
“Everybody deserves to be treated equally, and my faith is very important to me,” she noted. “He [Jesus] told us to go feed people, so I’m just doing what I was told to do and I’m loving it.”
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