A Winkler restaurant is giving people the opportunity to pay Christmas kindness forward this month.
King’s Deli Market and Eatery last week launched its second annual blessing meal program. For a $15, you can gift someone in need with a hearty meal.
“We started this last year and we did over 500 meals,” shared owner Colton Schiller, noting things were already well on their way just a few days after opening up donations this year. “This is our first week and we probably have 50 or 60 meals paid for already.”
The restaurant is partnering with local charities—Central Station Community Centre, Genesis House women’s shelter, and the like—to ensure the pre-paid vouchers go to where they’re most needed.
“Imagine if you’re a family, you have little kids, and you never go out to eat because you just can’t afford it,” Schiller said. “And now, suddenly, you as a family of four or whatever can go out and eat, get a special meal, because the community has paid for it.”
It’s not just about charity, he stressed, but about the community showing love for its most vulnerable members.
“A person came into the deli and they bought you lunch. How great is that?”
The meal vouchers can be used by recipients any time over the next several months.
“Whenever it makes sense for them to come,” Schiller said.
The outpouring of support this initiative received in its first year doesn’t surprise Schiller.
“I was very proud of our community,” he said. “In all our social media and everything, we talk about the King’s Deli family—we’re a family here, we have a very, very loyal customer base. And as part of that, I’m just very proud of what we were able to do with this.”
Every single gift makes a difference, whether you wish to sponsor one meal or many.
“We’d have a community leader come through, they’re here for lunch or whatever, and they’re like, ‘How much for 10?’” Schiller recalled. “People were generous.
“I think it would be really cool if we got to 750 this year,” he added. “That’s a lot of families.”
Stop by King’s Deli anytime in December to buy a blessing meal.
