When Al Lindskoog delivered the bad news that the Rainbow Kitchen volunteers will serve their last free home-cooked meal to the needy two days before Christmas, a hush fell over the dining room.
David Minshall was saddened by the news that the Anglican Diocese of B.C. has received an offer to purchase St. SaviourB次元官网网址檚 church and parish hall in Vic West, one of seven properties on the south Island up for sale.
B次元官网网址淚t will certainly be a hardship not to be able to come here,B次元官网网址� said Minshall, a 67-year-old Victoria resident who says the meals help him stretch his old age pension. B次元官网网址淚 started coming here about a year ago. I heard how good the food was here.B次元官网网址�
The Victoria Rainbow Kitchen Society, which formed in spring 2010, was notified last week that they had to be out of the hall at 310 Henry St. by Jan. 19.
B次元官网网址淲e knew it was coming and at the same time wished it wouldnB次元官网网址檛 happen at all,B次元官网网址� said Lindskoog, a society director and volunteer dishwasher at the kitchen. B次元官网网址淲e would be much happier remaining there because thatB次元官网网址檚 where the Rainbow Kitchen has become what it is.B次元官网网址�
To give themselves time to pack, volunteers will serve the final meal Dec. 23, B次元官网网址渨hich is in a way a really sad way to do it, but at the same time we can end with a party, so to speak,B次元官网网址� Lindskoog said.
The operation started out a decade ago by serving soup and sandwiches one day a week. Even after St. SaviourB次元官网网址檚 Anglican Church closed in March 2010, 100 volunteers have continued to take turns serving about 125 people a day, Monday to Friday, including most statutory holidays.
People living on fixed incomes, single parents, families in need and the homeless donB次元官网网址檛 just come to Rainbow Kitchen for the meal.
B次元官网网址淎t the same time itB次元官网网址檚 much more than a building, itB次元官网网址檚 the sense of community and the people that go there,B次元官网网址� Lindskoog said.
Despite having to close, there may still be a pot of gold waiting at the end of their rainbow, in the form of a new home.
The societyB次元官网网址檚 directors are in early talks to move to another site in the Vic West-Esquimalt area, Lindskoog said, adding that even if that works out, the kitchen will have to close for B次元官网网址渁 few weeksB次元官网网址� while the site is upgraded.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 always sad when something like this happens at a time when the people who are least able to handle the challenge of being in need are facing a greater need,B次元官网网址� Lindskoog said.
To donate or volunteer, call 250-384-2069.
