The Salvation Army in Neepawa, Man., celebrated the grand opening of its new community services building in May with a ribbon cutting, tours of the facility, cake and refreshments, and grateful fellowship.

Nearly 100 people stopped in to see the new space and hear about how it came together including Mayor Brian Hedley; Jody Byram, representative for the local MLA; Lieutenant David Hipperson, area commander; and members of the Neepawa Community Services Council.

“This new location reflects what we heard from the community—that people deserve privacy, choice and respect when accessing services,” says Amanda Naughton-Gale, community ministries director. “It also allows us to grow alongside Neepawa and expand the programs and supports we can offer now and into the future.”

The new facility was made possible through community partnerships and grants resulting in more than $225,000, and it is designed to better serve individuals and families in the community. The Salvation Army in Neepawa has historically delivered community services out of its thrift store location. As demand increased from serving 20 families to 80, and the Army started providing more than 450 kilograms of food each month while also supporting the town of McCreary, this model no longer adequately supported client dignity, confidentiality or program growth.

The new space includes a welcoming reception area, two private offices, a community kitchen, and an expanded food bank that allows clients to shop for groceries using a points-based system. In addition to food support, the new community services location provides space for workshops, events and potential new programs that respond to local needs.

“This space will allow us to provide different programming related to food security and literacy. We can also use it for small gatherings,” Naughton-Gale adds. “I would love to see this as a space for the entire community, not just a place to come and get food. It’s a place to build fellowship, get to know people and learn. We want to be warm and welcoming to everyone.”