Souls Harbour serves over 1,000 Easter dinners across Nova Scotia for those in need

Volunteers and donors help to serve over a thousand free Easter meals to those in need.

Starting the meal off with a prayer, Souls Harbour Rescue Mission saw a wave of people enter right at noon on Monday for Easter dinner.

Before the doors opened, CTV spoke with CEO Michelle Porter about this year’s dinner.

“We’ll be serving 1,200 people across the province, at various Souls Harbour Rescue Mission locations,” she explained. “So, we have nine drop-in centers that will be serving our Easter dinner today at Souls Harbour, three of which will be their very first time.”

Souls Harbour has been expanding its operations due to the increased need.

“Part of that expansion is three new drop-in centers, one in Dartmouth, one in Yarmouth and one in New Waterford, Cape Breton,” said Porter.

“The reason is just the need out there. We’re able to meet a need, we get into the community and we see tremendous support.”

At the Cunard Street location in Halifax’s North End, they are known as a place to get a hot meal, but also a conversation.

“It’s a very diverse community. Just a bunch of great people, and they love coming, they love what we do here,” said campus manager Rob Pottle.

“And they show up every day. Just looking for community and looking for chats and hanging out and great meals.”

It isn’t just the patrons of Souls Harbour; the volunteers look for community here too.

“I’m retired. And I moved here from Alberta, and I was looking for community,” said Larry Colquhoun, who has volunteered at the Cunard location for three years.

“So church, and then Sunday supper, and here at Souls Harbour,” he says.

Porter says people love the big dinners, adding they get extra volunteers and donations for them.

“One of the things that people forget is those little celebrations. Yes, Christmas is huge… especially for Christians, Easter is big,” he says.

“So, we are pleased to just be able to make that something special for our communities who come in on a daily basis, but also for those volunteers.”

Pottle also notes how important the gatherings are.

“Big dinners like this, I know for me, growing up, were important with family,” he said.

“So, a lot of people that come into Souls Harbour, sometimes they don’t have that connection with families. Coming here and being around people, and their community it definitely adds a special element to the dinners for sure.”

“We look forward to the chapel and the people around them, and it’s great community,” Colquhoun added about the Easter celebration.

Souls Harbour is able to provide these meals due to the community support in Nova Scotia, Porter said.

“Because of the generous donations of people,” he explained. “It’s not government funded. We do have some sponsors, like Darrell’s Restaurant in Halifax, but overall, it’s people who are mailing in a cheque and signing a placement that we can use to decorate the tables.”

While they do offer takeout meals for those who cannot dine in or choose not to, Souls Harbour aims to emphasize the overall experience. it’s about the overall experience of Souls Harbour.

“I think one of the things Souls Harbour does well is the community aspect,” said Porter. “We’re not a place where you just come in, have a meal, and leave. We are a place where we get to know you. You come in, you sit down, you have a little treat. And we know your name.”

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