Great news for WASK!!
Thanksgiving at the LighthouseWe have just received $10,000. from the MAINE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION’s COMMUNITY BUILDING program to support our mission going forward! We are deeply thankful for this award. For the last year, we have addressed hunger in the Waterville area by serving a small continental breakfast and a hearty hot lunch every Monday through Friday. Our numbers have risen, and we now routinely serve more than 200 lunches each day. We appreciate all who support our efforts as demand rises and we rise to meet it. "We are profoundly grateful,” said Carla Caron, President of the Waterville Area Soup Kitchen. “This funding from Maine Community Foundation, will help us to continue serving our community at The Lighthouse. We offer a delicious hot meal every weekday as well as the opportunity to create a community where people feel seen, heard, and welcomed. Some of our guests seek more than physical nourishment and the community here offers connection. Every one of our guests is grateful for the opportunity to lend a hand to another when they can.”
A gift for more than $1,500 from New Dimensions Credit Union
Mt. Merici - Thank You So Much
We are blessed by our connection with Mt. Merici. We love having students from the Mount volunteer at the Lighthouse every week. And this donation is so generous.
We are so proud to have donated $1,361.58 to the Waterville Area Soup Kitchen from our recent Penny War!!
Thank you for everything you do for our community and thank you to our families!
Also, a big thank you to Representative Bruce White for your continued support.
Carla Caron, President of the Waterville Area Soup Kitchen Receives Well-Deserved Recognition
Carla finds a lot of joy in serving the community at the Waterville Area Soup Kitchen, a nonprofit also known as The Lighthouse, as its President. The Waterville Area Soup Kitchen was started by a small group of people from the former Sacred Heart Soup Kitchen coming together to organize this 501c3 organization in late 2020. The kitchen began serving on the street at four different locations within the city of Waterville two days a week and served 35 to 45 meals a day.
We'll Miss You, Beautiful Girl
Perhaps if you are new to The Lighthouse or the Soup Kitchen’s website, you wondered why there was a white dog in our logo. That is Sugar Ray, who became an integral part of the Soup Kitchen in the last 2 years.
When we moved to Waterville in 2021, we took an apartment in the Hathaway because it was the only building that allowed pets. Sugar Ray and I would go for a daily noon walk in Green Street Park. She loved people and would pull me toward the volunteers standing in the park distributing soup and sandwiches (she also loved soup and sandwiches!). It took the soup kitchen volunteers a while to remember my name, but they always looked forward to seeing Sugar Ray. It wasn’t long before we were standing with the soup kitchen the whole time, greeting the customers and helping to give out food. We started traveling to Veteran's Park with them as well. Sugar Ray had quite the following, and if the weather wasn’t great and I volunteered by myself, everyone always asked for her. When I was asked to join the Board of Directors, I wasn’t really sure if they wanted me or Sugar Ray, so she always attended the Board meetings with me (just in case it was really her). When The Lighthouse opened, Sugar Ray could no longer visit, which is how she ended up on the logo.
Sadly, Sugar Ray passed away on February 10. She was the one who brought me to the Soup Kitchen, for which I will be forever grateful. I hope that seeing her on the wall of The Lighthouse will bring a smile to our faces and joy to our hearts.
Audra Weisel
Mason Jar Campaign
The Waterville Area Soup Kitchen’s Advisory Committee recently held its first ‘Mason Jar Fundraiser’. Beginning on November 9th and ending on December 15th, 38 local businesses participated in our campaign, helping us to raise $1,130.93.
We are happy to share the names of those businesses whose patrons generated the largest donations: in 1st place, Sav A Lot ($312.94), in 2nd place - Bolley’s Famous Franks ($121.27), and in 3rd place, Point Afta ($111.87).
These winners each received a Certificate of Appreciation for their participation, presented by Carla Caron, President of the Waterville Area Soup Kitchen.
WASK Advisory Committee: Aline Poulin, Marie McDonald, and Audra Weisel
Upcoming Breakfast
Please check in on our Facebook page for weekly menus and also for coming details about our next fundraising event. We are planning to serve breakfast next time, on Saturday, December 10th.
Waterville Florist and Formal Wear Surprises with a Grand Gift
We were surprised (wowed, actually) by the extraordinary generosity of Waterville Florist and Formal Wear. This wonderful local establishment is celebrating their fortieth year in business with a spectacular sale of roses at 1982 prices. While the entire community benefits from such an offer, all proceeds from this sale event will be donated directly to WASK! We continue to be humbled by the generosity of our community, as it rallies to support our efforts to continue serving the needs our neighbors.
Spaghetti Supper Success
We are happy to report that our Spaghetti Supper fundraiser was a success! With the assistance of many volunteers, including students from Mount Merici, we welcomed many generous guests who helped us to raise $1,500. We also wish to thank Holy Cannoli and Hillman’s bakery for their contributions to a delicious meal and to Sherri Gauthier for providing a lovely wine and cheese basket for raffle.
Door Dash Delivers
The Lighthouse has now partnered with Door Dash to deliver meals to those who find it difficult to join us in person. In addition to making deliveries to some of our clients, Door Dash also has made a gift of $3,000. To WASK. Thank you so much!
Spaghetti Dinner
We're really looking forward to seeing you. Please come, and bring family and friends. Or grab some meals to go. (Click image for larger PDF flyer)
Our Mural is Complete!
Colorful art now graces our entrance and welcomes guests. Many thanks to Portland artist, Spenser Macleod.
The Lighthouse Dining Room Opens for Soup Kitchen Guests
The Waterville Area Soup Kitchen proudly presents The Lighthouse, a new sit-down meals program being offered to the Greater Waterville Community. We are open Monday through Friday. Our doors open at 11:00, so come in and enjoy a hot or cold beverage. Lunch service begins at 11:20 and extends until 12:30. All are welcome!
Waterville Area Soup Kitchen Receives Major Contribution
Waterville Area Soup Kitchen would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to The Walnut Fund at the San Francisco Foundation for their generous gift of $15,000. These funds have been instrumental in procuring our new location and the initial costs associated with outfitting and stocking our shelves with goods and supplies to provide warm and delicious meals to our Community. We could not do this without your support!
Waterville Area Soup Kitchen Receives Major Foundation Grant
Waterville Area Soup Kitchen is profoundly grateful to be the recipient of a John T. Gorman Foundation Grant. We were awarded $15,000. With these funds we have vastly improved our kitchen capacity to prepare and cook upwards of 100 meals per day!
City of Waterville Awards $10,000 in ARPA funds to Waterville Area Soup Kitchen
Waterville Area Soup Kitchen was recently awarded $10,000 in funding by the American Rescue Plan Act Advisory Committee. We want to thank the City of Waterville for their support as we work to eliminate food insecurity in our Community. We are extremely grateful to have been considered. We understand there were many applications received for funding.
Huhtamaki Volunteers Support Soup Kitchen Effort
We are thankful and excited to have a group of volunteers from Huhtamaki join our team every Thursday to help serve our Community! It is wonderful to see our list of volunteers grow with area businesses taking an interest in helping those facing the challenges of homelessness and food insecurity. We cannot be a thriving community when we know there are some among us who are going without basic necessities such as food and housing. We appreciate you! Thank you for your generosity!
Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce Highlights Ribbon-Cutting Event
Waterville Area Soup Kitchen recently celebrated the opening of The Lighthouse with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony hosted by the Mid Maine Chamber of Commerce. Many friends gathered to enjoy light refreshments and offer support for your organization. Thanks to all of you. You made the event a complete success. Your support is appreciated!
