This corner of a yard near the original location of Stone Soup will shortly be used to feed roughly 150 people a night. (Spencer Sterritt/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Spencer Sterritt

stone soup

Free meal program returning to help Nanaimo’s most vulnerable

Oct 13, 2019 | 7:48 AM

NANAIMO — A free meal program for Nanaimo’s homeless and struggling families has found a new home.

Efforts to rebuild Stone Soup are underway on a property behind it’s original location near the corner of Nicol St. and Milton St., south of Nanaimo’s downtown.

A serving area is currently being built in the far corner of the yard owned by John Boyes, who has a history with the program beyond being a neighbour. He told NanaimoNewsNOW he’s visited for meals before and organizers Tanya and Doug Hiltz have offered him help over the years.

“It raised an eyebrow, I wasn’t sure about it,” he said when Stone Soup first opened in early 2018. “Then I visited and it was a really good place to go. It really quieted down the entire area.”

Boyes saw less people scrounging through dumpsters and being erratic on an empty stomach.

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“The only thing I ever did with that corner of the yard was park vehicles anyway. I never did anything with it so it might as well go to a good cause.”

It’s estimated the Stone Soup free meal program run from the Hiltz’s home fed 150 people a night. Meals were prepared off site in commercial kitchens and served in their backyard under a tent with chairs and tables.

It was closed after a lengthy public battle with the landlord of the Nicol St. property and the City of Nanaimo. Building permits were never issued for the floating deck, fences and infrastructure built in the Hiltz’s backyard.

Tanya Hiltz said the initial setup was done in a rush but this time they’re taking the time to do it properly.

“We’re crossing every i and t as we go.”

Stone Soup’s new home is zoned DT12, allowing for such a serving area. She said they’re also more aware of how to get permits for the work.

Hiltz said they never considered halting the Stone Soup program completely since the need for free meals still exists.

“The crying, screaming, yelling and stealing is really high. They come visit us begging us to get it going.”

Hiltz said they hope to be up and running by mid-November.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit