A brand new community kitchen is set to open this Monday at noon at A Better Tent City in Kitchener.
The grand opening will be taking place at 49 Ardelt Avenue, which will feature a catered lunch by Big Jerk Smokehouse. The new permanent community kitchen is the size of three school portables.
David Butler, Partner at Alair Homes Kitchener/Waterloo and Aurora/Newmarket, was the lead on managing the project. He said that Alair Homes specializes in customized homes and renovations and help finance the project to help bring the new kitchen to life.
"We got a lot of help from members of the community, ABTC and the City of Kitchener was instrumental in helping us," Butler said on the Mike Farwell Show on Thursday.
Butler said he did not know much about homelessness when he became connected to the project. Over the course of it, he has learned a lot about those who struggle with homelessness and said that ABTC is "one step better" into helping combating it in the region.
"Until you take that time to pause your life and take a few moments to understand, it is mind-blowing what these people have to go through," said Butler.
A Better Tent City offers homeless residents a small eight-foot by ten-foot cabin that includes plumbing, electricity and bedding. Currently, there are 50 shelters at ABTC along with laundry facilities and washrooms. Those who live in the ABTC community have access to regular visits from Sanguen mobile health clinic, ACCKWA harm reduction and weekly deliveries from The Food Bank of Waterloo Region.
Anyone looking for more information about A Better Tent City can visit their website.
