The Waterville Area Soup Kitchen is pleased to announce the opening of The Lighthouse, a new community meals program that will be located at 38 College Avenue in Waterville, across the street from the Post Office.
Beginning on Monday, May 2nd, volunteers will serve a full hot lunch on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays – the same three days that the Waterville Area Soup Kitchen has been serving meals downtown since November 2020. Doors will open at 11:00 a.m. and lunch will be served from 11:30 to 12:30. Following a start-up period, we plan to extend lunch service to six days per week.
In addition to providing a nutritionally wholesome meal, The Lighthouse will function as a place where people can expect to find a welcoming smile, get out of the weather in winter or summer, chat with old friends or make new ones. The space will also be available for use by the City as an Emergency Shelter.
Formerly the End Zone sports bar, our new home is owned by Rita LaCroix and is the home base for Rita's Catering. Waterville Area Soup Kitchen President, Carla Caron stated, "We are beyond Grateful that Rita is willing to allow the Soup Kitchen to use her facility. The location is perfect for our Guests and the seating area is just right for the friendly atmosphere that we want to provide. We plan to make some upgrades to the kitchen that will enable us to provide quality meals for up to 100 people." Ms. LaCroix is also the owner of Rita's House of Pizza in Winslow.
Since its formation in the summer of 2020, the Waterville Area Soup Kitchen has served over 5000 meals in the community. Because of the constraints imposed by the pandemic, those meals have been distributed at outdoor locations. Despite limitations, the enthusiastic cooks at Waterville Area Soup Kitchen have provided hearty meals which included a tasty hot soup or stew, a sandwich, a piece of fruit or dessert and a bottle of water. The meals were prepared at St. Marks Episcopal Church in Waterville, which graciously permitted the use of their kitchen facilities.
Many of Waterville Area Soup Kitchen's volunteers are veterans of the former Sacred Heart Soup Kitchen that closed when the church was put up for sale in 2020. That organization provided a meaningful inroad in the effort against food insecurity in Waterville for almost 40 years and people were saddened to see it end. The Waterville Area Soup Kitchen is proud to be carrying on this tradition started so many years ago.
Waterville Area Soup Kitchen is a registered 501(c)(3) all-volunteer non-profit that is funded through the donations of numerous individuals and many local businesses and civic organizations.
Special thanks to Kennebec Savings Bank for their generous support and advice. Waterville Area Soup Kitchen is a member of the Maine Association of Non-Profits and Good Shepherd Food Bank.
Donations can be made online at www.watervilleareasoupkitchen.com or by mail to Waterville Area Soup Kitchen, P.O Box 1494, Waterville, ME 04903
You can visit our website or find us on Facebook.
***The Waterville Area Soup Kitchen is looking to expand its volunteer pool.  Our lunch service at the Lighthouse grows steadily.  At present, we typically serve upwards of 130 meals each day.  Depending on the menu, each day's operation requires up to 11 people on hand. Regular volunteers enjoy camaraderie with each other and the guests who join us each day for a great meal and some lovely social interaction. If you've ever thought about making a significant contribution to the welfare of your neighbors, here is an opportunity to do great work without spending a penny. Even if it's just one day per week, if you can spare about 2 ½ hours – between 10:30 and 1:00 - on any weekday, we can probably use your help.  For more information, contact us at info@watervilleareasoupkitchen.com. ***
"Your support allows us to provide meals to the most vulnerable in our community"