A fresh start in Fenelon Falls, Ont., was a new beginning for Mack, but in November 2024, it felt like a step into the unknown after leaving an abusive relationship that took a toll on her mental health. She found herself in an unfamiliar town, unsure of her next steps.

“I was scared and anxious, and I felt alone,” she says. “I was talking with my landlord, and they said that if I needed anything, I could go to The Salvation Army in Fenelon Falls, and they would help me.”

That’s how Mack discovered the Hub & Grub—a free weekly community meal at The Salvation Army, every Wednesday, supporting as many as 40 people with nutritious food while creating a connection and feeling of belonging in a warm, welcoming space.

OK After All

When Mack first walked through the doors, staff and volunteers quickly put her at ease, inviting her to sit with them over coffee and snacks.

“They were so patient. We talked, and they got me laughing and opening up like we had known each other for a long time,” Mack says. “They asked if I needed help with groceries, and I said yes.”

Before she left, Mack received groceries and a Salvation Army thrift store voucher to help furnish her apartment. More importantly, she had an open invitation to return any time she needed food, support or simply a friendly face to help her adjust to her new life.

“I left that day feeling so much better than when I had arrived,” she says. “It was as if a small voice in my heart was saying, ‘Things might be OK after all.’

“I took them up on the offer to come back for the free meal at Hub & Grub that Wednesday.”

“The Salvation Army took me in, and my life changed for the better.” MACK

More Than a Meal

The program, which officially launched late last year, is about building community and offering support to those in need.

“Having a community meal that’s open to everyone—not just those who use our food bank—gives people a place to build friendships and not feel so isolated,” says Captain Kaitlyn Young, pastor at The Salvation Army’s Fenelon Falls church.

Hub & Grub also provides critical services through partnerships with local organizations. In collaboration with the City of Kawartha Lakes community outreach team, The Salvation Army connects individuals with housing resources, mental-health support services and paramedics who conduct mobile health checks. The Ontario Provincial Police also participate, offering Victims’ Services assistance for those in crisis.

For Mack, the program has become more than a chance to get a hot meal—it’s a source of hope, healing and community.

“The Salvation Army was a place of comfort and hope for me when I was at my lowest,” she says. “They took me in, and my life changed for the better.”