The Northside Soup Kitchen in North Sydney, N.S., has been a labour of love for Gary Rideout since his vision for the non-profit began 10 years ago. “When I started this venture, I said that I would sell my house to keep this going,” Rideout said on Monday. The last few years, volunteers have been serving hot meals at the soup kitchen, located at a former school on Brook Street. However, Rideout said he has had to reach into his own pockets to keep the facility running on a number of occasions. “I took my retirement and I put it into the work here and I worked on this building for over three years,” Rideout said. “It’s something that my whole heart and soul goes into.” This coming weekend, the soup kitchen and its supporters are putting on a fundraising concert featuring The Men of the Deeps and Jenn Sheppard, at the North Sydney Fire Hall. Organizers say about half the tickets have been sold. “Everyone has had hard times, and stuff,” said a volunteer, who identified himself only as Geneo. “You kind of don’t forget that.” Rideout said they need more volunteers like Geneo, which is why Sunday evening’s show is as much about raising community awareness about the facility and the people it helps, as it is about raising money. “We do need help physically and we do need help monetarily,” Rideout said. Rideout added that, as things stand right now, the soup kitchen is only able to open two days a week. The hope is that after the weekend’s fundraising concert they will be able to extend that to three days per week. “People on pensions can’t afford much,” Geneo said. “So, they’re just making ends meet when it comes to the end of the month and stuff.” The soup kitchen was opened in the first place because of high poverty rates in the area – a problem that, according to the latest data, has not improved much. That’s why soup kitchen volunteers are digging deep to keep the doors open. “I want to leave a legacy,” Rideout said. “That’s all I want to do. It’s not about me. It’s about what we have in our community.” Sunday evening’s benefit is set to take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
