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Warm hearts in the kitchen

Imagine cooking a meal for a large group but you never know how many people will turn up.

Imagine cooking a meal for a large group but you never know how many people will turn up.

On the first Thursday of each month in Port Coquitlam and the third Thursday in Coquitlam, about five or six of the group's 38 members set up tables and don aprons for an afternoon and evening of cooking and serving. They never know how many women will show, many with children in tow, but they always know their efforts are appreciated by those who come.

And nothing is wasted - leftovers are handed out at the end of the night.

"There are a lot of low income families here," club president Colleen Penrowley explained. Although the group's original target population nearly four years ago was homeless women, the outreach has expanded to include immigrant women, refugees and women who have a place to live but little more after the rent cheque is paid.

Warm Place for Women began in PoCo, but Penrowley said transportation was a problem for Coquitlam women, many of whom are new immigrants or refugees who have settled in the area. They tend to arrive at the dinner with their children who sometimes translate for them.

The meal is a great way for these women to connect, Penrowley said, and they find out they are not alone.

They can also choose from a selection of gently-used clothes, toys and shoes and can win a bag of personal care items at the end of the night.

"It's really a feel good project," said Pat Dawson, another member of the Soroptimist Club who helps with the meals.

Dawson said she enjoys the hustle and bustle of the event and seeing the smiles on the faces of the women and children.

Marg Berner, another volunteer, who also shops for the meal and is proud of the fact that she can feed 70 people for less than $150, is amazed by all the support for the program.

For example, the Pinetree secondary club students for Change helped out and donations come from all over the community. With the Coquitlam Legion providing the hall for free, more of the money the group collects through donations can be used for other Soroptimist programs.

"I say 'where does it come from'", Berner says of the support for the meal program, "It just sort of grows."

Now that the meal program is up and running, the Soroptimist Club has set its sights on helping another group - teenage girls. The 11-year-old club, which is part of an international organization, is hosting a fundraising gala called Give Her Wings this April and some of the proceeds will go towards a health-promotion workshop for teen girls next fall.

Penrowley said the fall conference will provide opportunities for teenage girls to learn about being safe on the internet, how to avoid sexual exploitation as well as information about being healthy and developing self-esteem.

"We decided we needed a new project to take on," Penrowley said, adding that more details about the conference and upcoming gala, which includes an evening of cocktails and entertainment at Port Moody's Inlet Theatre, will be published at a later date.

In addition to these projects, the local Soroptimist Cub also supports a recovery house for women in PoCo, called Glory House, and provides financial awards for low-income women seeking education and career advancement. It also honours women and teen girls who do volunteer work to enhance the community.

This year the international club is hosting a conference in Montreal and many women from the Tri-Cities will be attending. Penrowley said The Soroptimist club has grown in size as well as influence, but still welcomes new members. Anyone interest in joining or finding out more should check out at http://soroptimisttricities.org/