HAY RIVER - Those in need can once again find a hot meal or a place to keep warm at the Hay River Soup Kitchen.

Laura Rose serves up a hot meal at the new Hay River Soup Kitchen on March 30. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

The facility has moved into its new home and served its first hot lunch on March 30.

"Everybody is happy that it's open," said Laura Rose, the Soup Kitchen president.

Rose was pleased with the first day of operation in the new location – an $89,000 used trailer on the grounds of Assumption Roman Catholic Church.

"It worked really well, except I really have got to get in earlier," she said with a laugh. "I have to establish a new routine."

On the first day in the new location, 26 people, including 10 children, showed up for a hot lunch.

"They really like it," Rose said of the new location.

One man, who showed up for a meal, called the Soup Kitchen "very vital" to Hay River.

Some people in the community need help, including when they get laid-off and have nowhere else to go, he explained.

"This is a good place," he said. "Laura is a good person to be operating something like this."

An official grand opening will be held at the end of April.

The new Soup Kitchen can seat 15 people as opposed to nine in its former location – an old Highways camp trailer that had been home for about 15 years on a lot it shared with the Hay River Community Youth Centre.

The Soup Kitchen's move – which has been in the works for almost two years – was at the insistence of the Town of Hay River because the old trailer is located on land zoned commercial.

The move had been expected to be completed last October, but was delayed by funding issues and troubles with a previous contractor.

Transferring equipment from the old trailer to the new location took place at the end of February.

Hot meals had not been served at the old trailer since early February. Only coffee and bannock were offered, and the trailer was kept open to give people a place to warm up.

The Soup Kitchen offers hot lunches three days a week – Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.