Free Easter meal enjoyed by hundreds in Regina

More than 75 volunteers were busy prepping for Souls Harbour Rescue Mission’s (SHRM) annual Easter dinner and now the hard work has paid off.

Organizer Katrina Robinson said they were expecting more people this year for the free warm meal.

“We served 450 people last year so we’ve prepped for about 600 this year,” Robinson said. “We know that schools out today(Friday) so were expecting a lot of families to come through, and we always want to be a little over prepared to make sure that anybody who comes through our doors can get a meal.”

The meal consists of ham, scalloped potatoes, corn, coleslaw, lazy cabbage rolls, and buns.

Robinson added this past week, people in Regina really stepped up with donations as they only had to buy odds and ends to pull the dinner off.

“Were super thankful for everyone in the community who stepped up and to get all those donations in and to make this all happen.”

The Easter dinner is for anyone. Robinson said a variety of people come out to their holidays meals during the year.

“We have families that come, seniors that come, that might be alone for a holiday meal,” Robinson said, adding that it gives everyone a sense of community and belonging.

Katie Johnson has volunteered with SHRM since January. She said she was excited to take part in helping with her first holiday meal.

Johnson regularly helps out with the soup kitchen, and said the feeling you get from volunteering is invaluable.

“Just to see them being taken care of and to know that I had a part in it, is really rewarding and I’m just so excited for them to get a hot meal,” Johnson said.

Along with the warm meal, guests were also treated to live music, cake and coffee, and were also served by local star athletes. Four Saskatchewan Roughriders made an appearance to help serve the meals and interact with the kids who attended.

Wide receiver Joe Craig Jr. said this was his first experience helping with SHRM. He added that he was quick to say yes to the opportunity to help and plans on volunteering in the future.

“You have little kids in here that have asked me what my name is cause their football fans,” he said. “Just to be able to give back and give a spark to these kids life is most definitely something I just can’t turn down.”

Once guests were finished with their meal, and mingling amongst one and other, they were treated with a gift bag when they left. It included the spring into summer water bottles that were filled with everyday hygiene items and also an Easter chocolate treat.