Giving Hope Today at the Hope Cafe

On a cold spring day in Saint John, New Brunswick, the warmth from the volunteers at the Hope Cafe brings a smile to those who need it.

Three days of every week at The Salvation Army Hope Community Church, five volunteers operate a meal and friendship program that has quite a lengthy presence in Saint John. The Corps and Community Family Services (CFS) opened at the Prince Edward Street address back in 1965, and what was once called Dot’s Kitchen has always been an important part of its framework. Upon entering, the camaraderie between the regular attendees and the staff is evident. Each visitor is greeted, takes a seat at a table, and is served a tasty homemade breakfast. Today there’s hot oatmeal with brown sugar, toast, bagels, apples, clementines, and yoghurt on the menu. That main course is then complemented by a sweet treat and chased down by a cup of hot chocolate or coffee, as might be one’s preference. But once a month, the real treat is when eggs and pancakes are the featured menu. When it is 3 degrees outside, and a hard wind is blowing in off the Bay of Fundy, a warm meal is certainly good for the body, and CFS Coordinator Mary Doiron and her colleagues also provide food for the soul.

So, what’s the Hope Cafe all about? What started as a friendship room for those facing fiscal and social challenges has changed over the years, but the purpose has not. The two-hour timeslot each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday now starts with a prayer and short devotion before the food is served. Where a pool table once occupied space, there are now more tables and a bank of computers that are accessible to all, as they are needed for pretty much everything in today’s world. Additionally, on Mondays both a nurse and social worker drop by to attend to the needs of those that may require help.

The demographic of those enjoying breakfast and friendship is quite varied. There are youth and seniors alike here smiling, finding conversation and warmth, numbering 50 to 70 every week. One volunteer says, as she butters toast for a gentleman wrapped in a blanket and seated at table one, “They are like family to us. We know their names and what they want to order.”

CFS Coordinator Mary shares that the Hope Cafe has its regulars but there have been a lot of new faces in 2026 as things have been changing in the city and the need for support amongst people facing challenges has increased. What The Salvation Army is offering here is a lifeline for many of them.

But the guests are not all new. Some people have been seen there since the early 2000’s and regular attendee Rick Smith has been coming to the Cafe since 1966, just after it was established in the building which opened in 1965. Thanks to an invitation from Captain Murphy, Rick has been a constant presence at the Cafe and even volunteered with Dot Porter for close to 20 years back in the early days. The Hope Cafe has his stamp of approval and when asked why he keeps coming back, his response is that there are, “a lot of people here that know you, you meet a lot of people, interesting people, and get to know people. Compassion, friendship, and nice volunteers. They are all good! … I follow the constitution of the organization. To meet people where they are. Lots of new faces these days. Older friends from here have passed on.” When asked if he encourages people to return, he said, “Some I do, others just come back on their own.”

It’s interesting to stand back and observe those in attendance. Some come and go but those that linger are engaged in conversation while others are quietly eating. One table has a game of cribbage underway and elsewhere someone takes a quick nap in a safe corner. There are rules for behaviour in the room which are followed and enforced, should it be deemed necessary. The Hope Cafe is a haven and a place of smiles, compassion, and respect—where help in a dignified way is offered to those who seek it.

The Hope Cafe is a special place and is funded by The Salvation Army CFS, not an outside sponsor. Occasionally, food items are donated, and a local business regularly supplies the doughnuts; for that, there is gratitude. It’s an important part of the framework in the uptown area of Saint John, and what does Rick say about that? “They should have a new modern building, a bigger building as this is a really old building. Build it and they will come”.

If you would like to support or learn more about the Hope Cafe, contact The Salvation Army in Saint John at 506-634-1633 or donate here.

By Wendy Woodland