In the heart of Kitchener, every Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. between the months of November and April, St. Matthews Lutheran Church opens its doors to community members in need of a meal and a place to be with others. For over two decades, the church, located at 54 Benton St., has provided hot meals and a warm space through its Wednesday Out of the Cold Dinners program, providing not only sustenance but also a sense of belonging to those in need.

Doug McKlusky, a long-time volunteer with the program, explains that the weekly gathering at St. Matthews is more than a meal; it’s a testament to the power of community coming together to alleviate hunger and foster hope.

“It’s not just a meal,” says Doug. “It’s a social place where people can come and sit down and have a good meal, see their friends, and be welcomed by volunteers.”

Every week, a team of about 10 to 15 volunteers prepare and serve 65 to 75 meals using food from The Food Bank of Waterloo Region. Every hot meal includes a protein, vegetables, and either potatoes, rice, or pasta. Guests also receive chicken noodle or vegetable soup and dessert.

Some of the program’s volunteers are pictured here.

“The program wouldn’t run if we didn’t have The Food Bank’s support,” Doug says. “That’s the bottom line.”

Doug says that people from all walks of life attend the program. Some individuals are experiencing homelessness, and some people are employed but can’t afford to put food on the table.

“We never used to have children but now we have a few single moms who bring their kids,” Doug says. “It’s good in a way that they have a safe place where they can eat but it’s also sad that we’re seeing disadvantaged kids showing up.”

Some of the program’s long-term guests give back to the program by volunteering. They’re given meaningful tasks and as they get more comfortable, they’re given more responsibility.

“We do get new people but there is a core group that always comes,” Doug says. “Some people you don’t see for a while—sometimes their situation improves, and they get more stable housing and jobs, and you don’t see them as much—but then they show up again. A lot of these people have hard lives. Poor health, poor nutrition, precarious housing… it’s not the healthiest life. You always lose some each year. You never see those ones again.”

Doug wishes they could do more but is glad they can do something to support those in need.

“We’re not going to be able to save everybody but if we can help one person, that’s a good thing and we’ll keep doing it. No matter how I feel that day, I find it uplifting going there and helping people in our community.”

St. Matthews Lutheran Church is one of 120 agencies and community programs with the Community Food Assistance Network. Visit stmattskw.com to learn more. To help The Food Bank support our Network partners, visit our Get Involved section on our website.