Sunday Supper Committee: November 2008 Report

November 17, 2008

2007-2008 Season:

The past season involved 24 suppers served from October 14, 2007 to April 13, 2008 (excluding 2 Sundays over the Christmas period). There were a total of 1,920 guests, a smaller number than in previous years owing to a slightly shorter season (24 versus 26 suppers) and some large winter storms which substantially reduced the number of guests for some of the suppers. Total food costs were $5,090, for an average cost per dinner of $2.65. Guests were typically provided with seconds of the main course, and take home food when quantities permitted. An appreciation dinner was held in April for volunteers, attended by city counsellor Clive Doucet. Costs for the appreciation dinner amounted to $440.

Committee Changes:
The Sunday Suppers had been operated since their inception as a program of the Social Justice Committee (SJC). The SJC provided overall direction to the program and organizational support. In April, the members of the SJC agreed to disband the committee. At the same time, a new committee was established, the Sunday Suppers Committee (SCC), to oversee the Suppers. The SCC is chaired by Graydon Paulin, and includes the 8 co-team leaders from the Sunday Suppers as well as several other interested volunteers. Most past members of the SJC remain involved in the current Sunday Supper program. The new committee held its first formal meeting on September 16.

2008-2009 Season:
The current season began on October 19, the weekend after Thanksgiving, and will continue until April 5 (just before Easter), a total of 24 suppers. There will be no supper on December 28. The volunteers, of which there are approximately 80, are organized into 4 teams each led by 2 co-team leaders. While many of the volunteers are from the St. Margaret Mary Parish, many also come from other local churches or are simply friends or members of the Ottawa South community. A training session was held for new volunteers on October 19, organized by Danielle Belanger. It is anticipated that food costs will be similar to last season.

Other Initiatives:
Southminster Music for Community and Charity, a community group that supports local charitable initiatives, organized a fundraising event in May in support of the two local “in from the cold” programs, the Sunday Supper program and Center 7 at Southminster United church (which provides dinners on Saturday evenings). The SCC helped to sell tickets and provided volunteers for the event itself. The proceeds were evenly divided between the two programs and as a result we received a contribution of $1,172. We have also received a $1,000 donation from Canadian Martyrs Parish (as we did last year).

Representatives from four Ottawa based “in from the cold” programs (operated by Parkdale United, Knox Presbyterian, Southminster United and St. Margaret Mary) met last May to discuss common issues. Graydon Paulin and Randy Thurm attended on behalf of the Sunday Supper program. This group hopes to meet on an occasional basis and establish a broader support network.