The Upper Room Hospitality Ministry was established in 1984. It is a non-profit, non-denominational organization established to open and operate the first Soup Kitchen at the Basilica Recreation Centre. It now also operates the Charlottetown Food Bank.
With the Soup Kitchen being forced to move due to the pending sale of the Rec Centre, the Upper Room was looking for help to find a new location. Finding a location was not easy, and there were several attempt by citizens to derail the project because no one wanted a Soup Kitchen located near their residence or place of business.
Local Rotary Clubs were looking for a signature project to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of Rotary in 1905. The Rotary Clubs of Charlottetown, Charlottetown Royalty, and Hillsborough donated $50,000 each, and the Rotary Club of Stratford donated $5,000 in order to get it the new Soup Kitchen built. In 2005, the Soup Kitchen moved to a new building on Richmond St. Club President, Bob Sear, was a key proponent of the project and was heavily involved in the planning. Bob's firm designed the building.
The Staff and volunteers currently serve between 85 and 120 people per meal. Volunteers from church groups and nonprofit organizations prepare and serve meals on weekends and special occasions.
Below, Bob Sear, explaining the details of the project to RI President Riseley, Deputy Mayor Mike Duffy, Past District Governor Bob Moffatt, MLA Bush Dumville, and Past District Governor Juliet Riseley.
