soup kitchen
Guess who’s coming for lunch: Research study looks at those using Vernon soup kitchen
VERNON – Assumptions are sometimes made about those who rely on services like soup kitchens,…

Vernon soup kitchen sees dramatic upswing in demand
VERNON – A non-profit organization that provides meals, shelter and support to those in need…
Okanagan residents line up at the soup kitchen, not the grocery store, as food costs climb
OKANAGAN – Rising food costs are proving tough to swallow for many Okanagan residents. Higher…

Extra special Christmas gift for Vernon’s Upper Room Mission
VERNON - Christmas came early to Vernon’s local soup kitchen. Thanks to two local businesses, the Upper Room Mission’s regular volunteers will get Christmas Eve off. Rob and Lisa Ellis, owners of Rellish Transport Services, along with Jim Tennant of Save-On-Foods, stepped up to the plate and are sponsoring the Mission’s annual Christmas Eve dinner,...

Vernon soup kitchen sees record-breaking use of services
VERNON - A Vernon soup kitchen says it has a record number of mouths to feed, in part due to a dramatic increase in the number of families with children in need of a meal. Last year at this time, the Upper Room Mission was serving roughly 250 meals a day. That number has now...
Mouth watering three-course meal surprises Vernon homeless
VERNON - With an hour to go before doors open, Chef Vincent Van Wieringen gives the sous-chefs and servers a final pep talk: be light with the drizzle of demi-glace on the braised beef, don’t let a water glass go unfilled, and do not, repeat not, drop a plate. Tablecloths have been smoothed, cutlery laid...
Upper Room Mission back in business
VERNON – Almost 8 weeks after a devastating flood closed the doors at Vernon’s Upper Room Mission, the facility reopens Monday, Jan. 26. A pipe burst on the top floor of the soup kitchen on 27 Avenue Dec. 2, setting off the sprinkler system and doing major damage. “Our first meal will be served at...
Back home and back to business for Vernon’s Upper Room Mission
VERNON - The door is once again open at Vernon’s Upper Room Mission. The soup kitchen served lunch in its dining hall for the first time in two months today, Jan. 26, and communications manager Lisa Anderson says it’s good to be home. “This is where our clients feel most comfortable coming in out of...
Temporary food services set up after flood at Vernon’s Upper Room Mission
VERNON - The community is making sure no one goes hungry in the coming weeks while damages are repaired at the Upper Room Mission. Fundraising director Lisa Anderson says it could take 6-8 weeks before repairs are complete. The 27 Avenue soup kitchen flooded earlier this week after a pipe burst and triggered the sprinkler...

HELSTON: A small act of kindness will go a long way this Christmas
I’ll admit it; I tend to get my back up when I'm asked for money. My instinct is to terminate the uncomfortable conversation as quickly as possible with a ‘no, not today’ or some other firm, but polite, way of communicating the cause is not getting my hard earned cash. But I’m going to tell...

Food shortage worries Vernon soup kitchen staff
VERNON - A local agency that helps people in need is reaching out for some community support. Supplies at the Upper Room Mission soup kitchen—which serves around 300 meals a day this time of year—are extremely low. Fundraising director Lisa Anderson says the cupboards are emptier than they’ve been in a very long time. “The...