Christmas music and chicken soup were both wafting through the air on Third Avenue in Timmins at lunchtime on Tuesday. They were both coming from a pop-up kitchen staged by Grade 7 students from R. Ross Beattie Senior Public School.
Student Alyssa Delich says it was meant to raise awareness about homelessness in the city, and her classmates’ desire to step up and make a difference in the community.
They split into three groups: fundraising for the Yo! Mobile, setting up a food kitchen, and the outdoor pop-up kitchen. The soup was not only for the homeless, according to Delich.
“Anybody, really. Anybody walking around the community, anybody that wants to have any soup.”
And while awareness about homelessness was the major focal point of the kitchen, Delich says there’s more it.
“Well, we’re trying to give the message of joy. Just to bring awareness and just to spread joy around the time of year.”