{"id":10781,"date":"2026-03-05T13:48:48","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T13:48:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/salvationarmy.ca\/atlantic\/?p=10781"},"modified":"2026-03-06T13:51:26","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T13:51:26","slug":"students-slices-and-smiles-parking-lot-pizza-creates-caring-space-for-local-youth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/salvationarmy.ca\/atlantic\/2026\/03\/students-slices-and-smiles-parking-lot-pizza-creates-caring-space-for-local-youth\/","title":{"rendered":"Students, Slices, and Smiles: Parking Lot Pizza Creates Caring Space for Local Youth"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
Salvation Army volunteer, Stephen Jones, ready to welcome students to Parking Lot Pizza.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s lunchtime and the smell of fresh pepperoni pizza fills the air as you enter The Salvation Army Encounter Church in Lower Sackville, N.S. A familiar face greets you at the door with a friendly smile. It\u2019s Parking Lot Pizza day and all are welcome!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Myles is in Grade 9 and attends the free pizza lunch offered each Wednesday at the church, known as Parking Lot Pizza, along with peers from his school and the neighbouring junior high. When asked why he keeps coming back every week, his answer is quite simple, \u201cFree food!\u201d Myles says. \u201cEveryone is nice here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to the pizza from nearby Freeman\u2019s Little New York restaurant, church staff and volunteers, Parking Lot Pizza has created a welcoming space for local students who want or need a free lunch during the school year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Local students enjoy a slice of pizza during their lunch break.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While a weekly free and friendly lunch on its own is a good thing, the pizza pull has also connected youth and their families to The Salvation Army beyond the lunch hour. Some have chosen to volunteer with the annual Christmas Kettle Campaign, and others have participated in activities and programs offered through the church, helping them connect with community and build their resume. Parking Lot Pizza has become important for parents and guardians too. School life can be intimidating and thanks to the Wednesday lunch, some students come to Encounter Church for a slice of happiness and a safe escape, giving parents reassurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Community Support<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Pizza can be a love language and for the volunteer crew who smile, greet, and serve these 350+ students each week, it is just that. Frankly, it wouldn\u2019t happen without the seven smiling faces that have \u2018stolen a pizza\u2019 the students\u2019 hearts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Stephen Jones inside The Salvation Army Encounter Church.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One such volunteer is Stephen Jones. He\u2019s been volunteering with The Salvation Army for decades and has been helping with Parking Lot Pizza since day one. For both he and his wife June, it feels like an extension of the Army’s former \u2018Feed the Need\u2019 program at which they volunteered in downtown Halifax for 17 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
June Jones, Stephen’s wife, helps organize pizza in the church kitchen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Stephen does this because he feels, \u201cIt\u2019s our responsibility to connect with the community and volunteering is a small way to help\u201d. He goes on to say that youth are important to The Salvation Army and they need lunch, as well as a safe place no matter their background. Stephen is glad to be a part of that. And the students? They see it too and say, \u201cThere\u2019s always this guy who welcomes us\u2026\u201d. That guy is Stephen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Along with dedicated volunteers, you ‘knead’ a lot of ‘dough’ to make this lunch program happen\u2014approximately $1,500 for 70 pizzas each week. Financial support from the community will allow Parking Lot Pizza to continue deep dishing out care in Lower Sackville, and sponsorship opportunities will soon be available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re interested in supporting Parking Lot Pizza, please connect with Encounter.Info@salvationarmy.ca<\/a> or call 902-865-8010 for more information. Click here<\/a> to watch Parking Lot Pizza in action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
While Parking Lot Pizza is for the students, a few unexpected visitors have been spotted waddling over to Encounter Church on Wednesday, greeted by a smiling Stephen Jones.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

By Wendy Woodland & Deborah Waines-Bauer<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s lunchtime and the smell of fresh pepperoni pizza fills the air as you enter The Salvation Army Encounter Church in Lower Sackville, N.S. A familiar face greets you at the door with a friendly smile. It\u2019s Parking Lot Pizza day and all are welcome! Myles is in Grade 9 and attends the free pizza […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":10790,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"location":[],"class_list":["post-10781","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general-interest"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nStudents, Slices, and Smiles: Parking Lot Pizza Creates Caring Space for Local Youth - Salvation Army Atlantic<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/salvationarmy.ca\/atlantic\/2026\/03\/students-slices-and-smiles-parking-lot-pizza-creates-caring-space-for-local-youth\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Students, Slices, and Smiles: Parking Lot Pizza Creates Caring Space for Local Youth - Salvation Army Atlantic\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"It\u2019s lunchtime and the smell of fresh pepperoni pizza fills the air as you enter The Salvation Army Encounter Church in Lower Sackville, N.S. 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