Souls Harbour feeds the needy at New Years

HALIFAX – The Souls Harbour Rescue Mission in Halifax held its third annual New Year’s Eve Dinner today. As usual, the prospect of a hot three-course dinner on a frigid December day packed the facility.

Red Seal Chef Les Porter was cooking hodge podge and checking on his ham early this morning at the rescue mission, but preparation began earlier in the week. “On Monday we had a whole crew of people here peeling potatoes, carrots, turnips – for the mash,” said Porter. “I cooked all that up that day.”

Les’ sister-in-law, Michelle Porter, operates the mission with her husband Ken, who was greeting people as they came through the front door. 400 people were expected for the meal and the facility wasn’t long filling up.

“We have 420 servings of ham, thanks to Chater Meat Market,” said Michelle Porter, the Director at Souls Harbour. “We have cheesecake for 200 people from Sweet Hereafter Cheese Cakery and we have over 2-thousand people who have contributed to this dinner one way or another.”

The Mission has good reason to put on this meal each year. “There are probably about 2-thousand people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness – street level people – in Halifax and area,” said Michelle.

The mission just hopes everyone enjoys the day and we got nothing but positive feedback from those who enjoyed the meal. Cindy Payne said, “It helps people keep away from hunger and starvation and it’s a great help to the community.”

Susan Lucas added, “I appreciate it because sometimes I don’t have a meal but I come here and they open their hearts up to me.”

The Tall Ships Trading Company donated new tee-shirts and stockings stuffed with personal items were handed out as parting gifts for everyone. “I got some tee-shirts. Cool,” said Kevin Mosher. “I got a sock full of kleenexes and little bit of candy.”

Susan Lucas said her gift meant a lot. “They give me some mittens, eh, and thank god eh.”

The Mission says they served roughly 300 meals to clients during the lunch.