Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 28, is the final free hot lunch to be served at the St. Andrew's United Church until the fall.

A freshly-made soup lunch continues to serve as a backdrop for a weekly community gathering that has steadily grown since it was launched in the spring of 2015. 

"It seems early to mid-spring it just started to take off," says Rev. Ray Goodship. "We had a span with high attendance in the high 50s, low 60s range and a high of 85 about three weeks ago. Ever since then its been in steady in the 50s. Usually, it starts to taper off as you get deeper into spring, but not this year."

"I think it’s more about community and friendship than it is about soup so that just confirms what we’re doing is the right path."

Certainly, the Tuesday gathering is about hunger but it's also about giving people a place to connect with friends and make new acquaintances. People from all walks of life attend; some are regulars and some drop by occasionally.

It has an open door policy and no money changes hands, thanks to donations by the church's congregation, individuals, organizations and businesses. It costs about $100 per week to provide lunch and is prepared and served by volunteers.

Success, though, has its challenges. The church has enough money for tomorrow's lunch but now need to start building funds for when it resumes on Sept. 17.

"If people want to donate to the program we would certainly appreciate that," says Goodship. "We have enough to finish out tomorrow but we don’t really have enough right now to get started again in the fall."

"If any organization or business wants to sponsor a lunch plus give us three or four volunteers that day we’d be thrilled," he continues.

While the hot lunch is a brainchild of the church, it's being embraced by the entire community. In fact, about one-third of the volunteers who help prepare and serve the food aren't part of the church's congregation. They've had many members of Cochrane's music community lend a hand, plus others like FCSS staff, town council and Cochrane Now.

Volunteer sign up sheets are already available at the church for the fall relaunch. People can sign up there or can phone the church or connect through Facebook. Goodship says it's about a four-hour commitment from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

By the way, tomorrow's soup is ham and potato and, as always, will be prepared fresh in the morning. It's always served with a bun, refreshments and dessert.