A Safe Place to Connect: Belleville Salvation Army Serving More People in Need

 

Belleville’s Community and Family Services (CFS) provides a dignified and welcoming environment for people like Les, a regular in The Salvation Army’s Sally Ann Supper program.

Les not only benefits from the program but also offers a listening ear and guidance to others in need. Held in a new dedicated dining room, the Sally Ann Supper program serves more than hot meals four nights a week—it provides emotional support and community connection.

“Please keep doing what you’re doing. You’re helping people; you’re getting people in the doors, and that’s what it’s all about. Because once they’re in the doors and they have a meal, we might be able to help them,” Les says.

Les’s journey with The Salvation Army began in 1996 when a friend helped him find a job delivering food to vulnerable people in Belleville and surrounding areas. However, his path to stability has been far from easy.

At 19, Les began using alcohol to cope with the trauma of a childhood event. His addiction lasted until he was 38 when he decided to confront his past. After over 1,000 hours of therapy, Les reached a turning point: he made peace with the person who had hurt him.

“My therapist said, ‘You have to forgive the person.’ I didn’t think I could, but I gave it a try, and I managed to,” Les recalls. “It takes a great weight off when you forgive someone. I wouldn’t have gotten a job with The Salvation Army if I hadn’t forgiven him.”

Les’s story highlights the importance of supportive environments like The Salvation Army, which continues to expand its services to meet growing needs in Belleville. The CFS location in Belleville is transforming lives through innovative programs to meet urgent community demand.

The food bank now operates in a larger grocery store-style space, where clients use gift cards to choose items that meet their needs, bringing dignity and flexibility to people like Les.

“The impact has been amazing,” says CFS director Rebekah Leach. “Since opening the dining room, we’ve seen significant growth. Now, people can sit down, eat, and connect. The number of individuals we’re serving has doubled.”

The Sally Ann Supper program now provides dinner to up to 170 people nightly through its mobile canteen truck and to 60–70 people at the dine-in location.

“We’ve seen more seniors and working families coming through our doors,” Rebekah says. “The economy, high rental costs, and the housing shortage affect everyone. If we can provide even one meal they can count on, that’s one less worry for them.”

In addition to meals, the larger CFS building offers long-term support programs like Pathway of Hope, which helps clients achieve stability, and a private office for a street nurse, improving healthcare access for vulnerable individuals.

“Many people are seeking assistance for the first time. There’s no stigma here—everyone is welcome,” Rebekah says.

With the rising cost of groceries, bills, and rent, more people in Belleville are turning to The Salvation Army for help. A recent survey revealed that one in four parents is eating less so their children have enough to eat.

The expanded location has also made space for new initiatives, including a weekly drop-in lunch for high school students and monthly Brave events for young women.

These programs are changing the lives of people like Les. From struggling with trauma and addiction to joining the Sally Ann Supper program, he reflects the hope and transformation The Salvation Army brings to anyone in need.

Help The Salvation Army provide life-changing assistance for people facing the impossible choice of paying rent or paying their bills. Donate today at www.SalvationArmy.ca or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY.