A hot meal can go a long way when times are tight. Eight churches in Weyburn have joined forces to create the Community Hot-Meal Program.   The program began four or five years ago, it runs from November to the end of March. Running through a rotation, each church takes a turn providing the hot meal each Sunday.   Previous to the COVID pandemic people were welcomed into the Knox Presbyterian Hall for a hot meal every Sunday but once the pandemic arrived quick changes needed to be made.   

John Smith, Minister of the Church of Christ and Chair of the Weyburn Ministerial Association shared, “We were contemplating what can we do, we can’t really host meals in the hall.”    

The COVID regulations required members to come up with some quick creative solutions.   

“That’s when the idea was brought forward that well, let’s get people to make homemade soups, baked buns and homemade cookies because we can at least deliver food to people’s doorsteps,” said Smith. 

Over the past two years, the need for the Community Hot-Meal Program has increased dramatically, doubling the number of meals being delivered each Sunday.   Currently, the program provides meals to approximately 50 different households for a total of 80 people, whereas last year they provided meals to 25 different households and approximately 40 people. 

“People who are living on a very tight budget are finding it more challenging than ever to feed themselves,” said Smith. “We give generous portions so that most of the people who receive the meals would be able to get at least two meals out of what we send them.”  

Numerous volunteers are required each week to organize and fulfill the need in the community. Using the Knox Presbyterian Hall kitchen approximately six people make the meals and another 15 drivers volunteer to deliver the meals that does not include those that donate the meal supplies each week. 

“I think it is really good that the churches in the city and the people of the community rally together to make sure that the people on the margins are not neglected and not going hungry,” said Smith. 

Churches that support the program are the Church of Christ, Knox Presbyterian, Wheatland Community Church, The Free Methodist Church, Zion Lutheran Church, St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, Grace United Church, and Calvary Baptist Church. For those who would like to be a recipient of the FREE Community Hot-Meals Program, or would like to donate to the program you can contact Minister John Smith at 306-891-4123. Additional volunteers and donations are always helpful.