As of August, Coventry Relief Kitchen will close at its current location, with the hope that it will be a temporary closure

Johanna Hill of Coventry Relief Kitchen preparing homemade potato soup. By Dan Jones, Northumberland 89.7 FM, LJI

By: Cecilia Nasmith, Northumberland 89.7 FM News

Colborne

For almost two years, Coventry Relief Kitchen has operated in the basement of the Colborne Pentecostal Church, offering two meals a week – and fellowship – to literally anyone in the community.

Each Wednesday and Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m., full hot meals are dished out to anyone who shows up.

“Everybody is welcome,” Coventry Relief Kitchen Secretary Amanda Hill said.

As important as the nutrition is the socializing, President Johanna Hill (Amanda's mother) added.

“People come in and sit, share a moment together, and they converse. That is what attracts people the most right now,” she said.

The original vision was a meal for anyone in the community, all ages, all circumstances – from a busy family giving Mom a night off from cooking to someone stretching a paycheque that doesn't stretch very easily. Payment is by donation.

“We do have a lot of single moms,” Johanna said.

“They come in and are really grateful for Coventry, because at least they know their kids are having two good meals.”

On a typical Wednesday, they serve up 60 to 80 meals. On Thursdays, which are slower, they serve up 30 to 40 meals.

Amanda recalls keeping careful stats for one four-month period. During that time they served almost 1,000 meals.

Problems with their lease at their current location mean they will shut down as of August.

“Hopefully, only temporarily,” Amanda said.

They have found another good location in Colborne, but the opening date depends on a lot of things – lease signing, permits, renovations required to obtain approvals from the health unit, completing the actual physical packing-and-moving, and the necessity to recruit volunteers to help with it all.

And because they estimate the necessary renovations in the $20,000 range – not to mention a couple of thousand dollars for permits – they will also be planning some fundraisers.

In short, it's too soon to announce a reopening date.

“We are hoping and praying we will be able to resume some time in September,” Amanda said.

Johanna recalls that they spent $10,000 (not to mention six months of work) to properly prep their current location, which opened in August 2023. It's daunting to think of spending even more and starting the process anew.

“We are a nickel-and-dime operation,” she said.

“People donate a looney here, a tooney there. They do add up, but not to the substantial amount we need.”

All donations are gratefully accepted, Amanda said, even donations of time to get the work done.

And in the longer term, they hope to get volunteers to help run the kitchen, because – as Johanna put it – she and her daughter are pretty well the chief cook and bottle washer at Coventry just now.

Stay tuned for news of fundraisers as they are announced. Meanwhile, if you can help, call 613-849-9837, e-mail coventryreliefkitchen@yahoo.com or contact Coventry House through Messenger on their Facebook page.