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Things have changed at the Gathering Place soup kitchen in North Bay.
Dennis Chippa, the executive director of The Gathering Place soup kitchen in North Bay with support from the Board of Directors, made the tough call to cut several staff members and decrease their meals to five meals a week, one a day and lunch only starting September 1.
"We are adjusting to the change," Chippa stated in a text to BayToday.
"We are trying to put together a meal and a half, so a sit down meal and then food to take home. So far our folks have been pretty understanding as well."
See related: Gathering Place executive looks for better days ahead after cutbacks
See related: Gathering Place on alert. Cutting back to survive
He says the support from volunteers has been beneficial.
"The volunteers have also stepped up to really pitch in," he said.
"It’s a so far so good kind of thing."
It has been a challenging summer for North Bay's soup kitchen.
On top of the financial challenges, Chippa says the demand for their services is way up.
"We are one of the few industries on the planet where we don't necessarily like having an increase in business, and we have had a significant increase in business," Chippa stated last month.
Chippa says many who support them are hoping this is just a temporary challenge and The Gathering Place will be able to increase its meals when the financial situation improves.
