Salvation Army Shelter Provides More Than a Bed
For almost a year, the residents of the Abri d’espoir – a women’s shelter run by The Salvation Army – have had the opportunity to participate in a cooking workshop tailored to their needs.
Every week the residents meet with Gloria Lombardi, the nutritionist who leads the workshop. In a light-hearted atmosphere, the women receive advice on diet, meal planning, cleanliness, nutrition, budget planning, and, of course, lessons on basic cooking techniques.
The goal of the workshop is to help women become independent and better manage their nutritional needs, basic to a well-balanced life. “I teach ‘healthy fast-food,’ which is perfect for the women I meet. They can easily put it into practice as they become more autonomous,” says Lombardi.
Different aspects of cooking are studied during the two-part sessions held in the morning. Lombardi stated, “In the theoretical part of the course, I teach and then quiz the women about such things as the ingredients in recipes, their nutritional value, and where different foods come from. Regular attendees now know what is good for them and take better care of their diet and health.”
The second part is practical, where the women work as a group to prepare a meal in the kitchen. Every participant has a role to play: one cuts up vegetables, another does the cooking, and so on. After a few months, positive changes can be seen in the women. Self-esteem grows as timidity and indifference fade.
Enthusiasm peeks when it is time to sample the results. Since everyone participates in the process, all take pride when a dish is successful. One participant confided, “It’s like being in a family when we eat together. We forget our troubles.”
The recipes are decided upon as a group and vary according to the season and occasion. Lombardi encourages the residents to contribute their own ideas. When recently discussing a menu to celebrate the arrival of spring, Sarah, one of the regulars, said, “We’re going to make a pear and roasted red pepper soup, followed by pasta and beans in a light sauce served with seasonal vegetables!” She needs a special diet because of her diabetes and is learning to adapt recipes accordingly. Sarah reports, “Sometimes we create meal themes around international days, so we also widen our horizons and learn what is going on in the world.”
Personalized follow-up is also on the menu. L’Abri d’espoir director, Liette Latendresse states, “We use this program to help former residents by offering them follow-up meetings with the nutritionist. When one of them is pregnant or has given birth we can provide her with on-going nutritional advice both for her and her baby. This gives her an enormous sense of security. The things we teach our residents are not innate; they are skills which need to be acquired.”
The program is one way for the women at the Abri d’espoir to invest in the lives of others, take charge of their lives and health, develop their creativity, and socialize with others. If this program is any indication, their future looks bright.
The Abri d’espoir is a shelter in Montreal run by The Salvation Army. The clientele is women in difficulty aged 18 or more, with or without children. Sixty beds are available for stays from one night to 12 months. The Abri d’espoir is open seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day. The bilingual services include meals, basic care and moral support.
