THEBACHA/FORT SMITH - Fort Smith will soon be getting a soup kitchen. It is to be opened by the Ecumenical Group, a recently-formed group of concerned citizens.

"We're thinking we're going to start once a week and see how it goes," said Louise Fraser, the co-ordinator of the new initiative.

No date has yet been set for the opening of the soup kitchen, which will be located in the Bishop Piche Centre in the basement of St. Joseph's Cathedral.

Fraser said the soup kitchen will offer soup, bannock and buns, refreshments and dessert.

It will be a way to help people who may be alone and vulnerable, she added. "Some of these people love to socialize."

Fraser said the Ecumenical Group is looking for people to help out at the soup kitchen.

The idea is to have groups of six people to operate the soup kitchen. Two will be responsible for preparation, two for service and two for cleanup.

Fraser said three organizations have so far become involved - the Anglican Church, the Pentecostal Church and the Circle of Friends.

"We'll probably have more people when we get started," said Fraser, who is also president of the Circle of Friends.

In December, the Ecumenical Group opened a year-round food bank in the basement of St. Joseph's Cathedral.

The group was formed at a meeting in late November to create the food bank.