Soup Kitchen has overcome challenges over past year

By Alexandra Noad - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on March 15, 2025.

While the Soup Kitchen faced challenges in the last year, it continues to focus how they have been blessed to be able to continue to serve the vulnerable population in Lethbridge.
For the last 40 years, the Soup Kitchen has served three hot meals Monday through Saturday and two meals each Sunday.
At their annual general meeting it was announced they currently have 23 part-time staff and 800 volunteers who fed a total of 168,000 meals in 2024, which is the equivalent to about 14,000 meals each month.
With the expansion of the shelter, Bill Ginther expects to see an increase of people using the Soup Kitchen.
“The ongoing construction of the new Blood Tribe of Health Shelter, which they say will be done at the end of March, will house 200 people, the current one is 111, we know that we will see an increase of people.”
To help with the demand, the Soup Kitchen is planning on expanding. The projected cost for the expansion is $50,000 dollars.
They have also renovated their dish pit, which ended up costing more than expected as plumbing issues were found during the renovation.
Thanks to a very successful campaign from the E-Free church, the Soup Kitchen was able to reach into the funds to cover the unexpected costs.
Ginther says the Soup Kitchen plans on partnering Streets Alive Mission, who recently purchased the building across the street from them, as they serve the same people in different capacities.
“We serve the same people in somewhat different ways, but we’re looking at how we can partner how we can do things together.”
As the Soup Kitchen is a non-profit organization, they rely on donations and grants to cover expenses. While business and cash contributions were down from 2023, churches and The City of Lethbridge donations were up from the previous year.
Davis Pontiac also donated half of the lease payments for the company vehicle.
With the non-profit being a Christian organization, a group comes every Sunday to do a sermon for the guests.
They are always looking for volunteers and now have a website where individuals and groups can sign up to help with a meal. More information can be found at https://lethbridgesoupkitchen.ca/

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