Grant African Methodist Episcopal Church launches soup kitchen in Toronto

Church welcomes up to 100 guests to its new program

By Joanna Lavoie, Beach Mirror

A church in the Beach Hill area in Toronto, Canada is expanding its outreach efforts by opening up a monthly soup kitchen. Grant African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church at 2029 Gerrard St. E., just east of Woodbine Avenue, will be launching its new Food and Fellowship Soup Kitchen on Saturday, March. 4.

The volunteer-run program, which is being supported by Second Harvest and the Salvation Army and will run from 3 to 6 p.m., has the capacity to welcome up to 100 guests.

“We’re excited about serving the community,” said long-time parishioner Loy Pinnock-Brown, who is a member of the local church’s mission group, which is behind the new program.

She said the idea for the soup kitchen came about as the group is always looking for ways to better serve the community.

“This is just an extension of what we believe we’re called to do, which is help those in need,” Pinnock-Brown said, pointing to a number of initiatives Grant AME Church does to help the less fortunate including running an annual Christmas food hampers program.

The new Food and Fellowship Soup Kitchen at Grant AME Church will also be open on the first Saturday of April and May and will resume again in September.

At this point, it will only be open to adults but down the line Grant AME Church is looking to run family days and possibly expand to two days a month in the fall.

Reprinted with permission from the Beach Mirror.