Jeff Green | Oct 20, 2011
In 1996, as he still is today, Mike Procter was running the Adult Protective Services Program for Northern Frontenac Community Services (NFCS).
A number of the people he was working with at the time were facing the loss of ARC Industries, which provided many people with intellectual disabilities a job and a place to go every day for programming.
“The Community Drop-In was set up to give people a place to go, something to do once a week,” recalled Procter last Wednesday morning as he pulled a large pot of potatoes off the stove at the Anglican Church Hall.
With a bit of money from both NFCS and Community Living - North Frontenac, and the foundation of a partnership with the Anglican Church in place, the Community Drop-In, a weekly community lunch on offer to anyone with $2 in their pocket and an empty belly, got its start.
Fifteen years later it costs $4 for a meal, but for that price the Drop-In volunteers prepare a fresh, hot meal. Last week it was meatloaf, mashed potatoes and carrots, coffee and juice, followed by cake.
“There is no one in charge here,” said Mike Procter, “we all help out, and are able to feed everyone who shows up, if it is 15, 25 or 30.”
A number of people from all walks of life in Sharbot Lake come out for a meal on occasion, along with some of the people that Mike Procter works with on a daily basis, as well as Community Living clients and staff.
In addition to the weekly meals, the Drop-In has organized trips, and has been able to help the Anglican Church keep the kitchen going in their hall with the purchase of new stock pots, a stove and a vacuum cleaner.
The Drop-In has also donated to local causes on occasion, including a $150 donation to the Sharbot Lake Legion to help pay for their new septic system.
The Community Drop-In operates without funding support, based entirely on the efforts of the people who come out every week. The price may have to go up again in the coming months or years as food prices rise, but the Community Drop-In will still be the cheapest, and friendliest, lunch in town every Wednesday.
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