Lethbridge Soup Kitchen expands to meet growing needs

By Lethbridge Herald on January 28, 2026.

HERALD PHOTO BY JOE MANIO After an official dedication and ribbon cutting Sunday, visitors tour the new wing at the Lethbridge Soup Kitchen where donations will be received, weighed, and stored by staff and volunteers.

By Joe Manio

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter- Lethbridge Herald

Before the ribbon was cut on its newest expansion, the Lethbridge Soup Kitchen’s executive director Bill Ginter stood before a bare stretch of wall inside the dining room and explained to visitors that a wall once stood on that spot until it was knocked down to make room for more people.

The moment set the tone as the downtown organization kicked off 2026 by dedicating a new wing, an expansion driven, not by ambition, but by growing need that has outgrown the space.

Now officially open, the wing will be used primarily for receiving, sorting and storing donations. Leaders say the project was necessary to keep pace with demand that has steadily increased.

“We had decided, because of who we are as an organization, it was really important to dedicate our new building to the purpose of the work that we do, and that is on behalf of our Lord and Saviour,” says Ginther. 

“We do our work because it’s something that we’re told to do, and we follow what our scriptures tell us.”

The expansion reflects a difficult reality facing front-line social agencies: growth does not necessarily signal progress. Instead, the soup kitchen says it is a practical response to ongoing need, made possible by a steady flow of volunteers, donors and funding — many rooted in faith-based communities.

The newly-expanded Lethbridge Soup Kitchen has a larger dining room and more storage for donated food, as well as a drive-on weight scale and better food drop-off facilities. The project cost approximately $500,000, and Ginther was proud to announce that they did not utilize any taxpayer dollars.

Ginther says the Soup Kitchen received a tremendous amount of support from the community, and he is grateful to everyone who contributed.

A plaque near the entrance of the new wing honors the late John Unrau, whose estate contributed $200,000 to the soup kitchen. Leaders say the gift played a pivotal role in making the expansion possible.

The group received just over two million pounds worth of donated food in 2025 and was able to distribute 1.8 million pounds of that to 32 other agencies throughout the city.

Behind the scenes, the new wing addresses long-standing logistical challenges. Donations of food, clothing and supplies arrive daily from individuals, churches, businesses and community groups, often exceeding the storage capacity the building once had.

Volunteers remain central to the operation, with hundreds contributing their time throughout the year. Many come from local faith communities, reflecting the soup kitchen’s openly Christian foundation.

“We’re incredibly blessed when it comes to volunteers,” Ginter says. “This place runs because people give their time — week after week — motivated by faith and a desire to serve.”

Mayor Blaine Hyggen, who attended the dedication, said the expansion underscores the importance of community-driven support.

“What amazes me most about the soup kitchen is the operation sides of it and the amount of volunteers that come to help each and every day,” says Hyggen. “I think Bill said the numbers (were) 12000 in a year.”

“It’s a credit to Bill and his staff, and to those volunteers in the community that come out to support those that are struggling. It’s unfortunate in one way that we have to expand, because that means more people need the services.”

Architect Alvin Fritz of Alvin Reinhard Fritz Architect Inc. (ARFAi), who has worked on larger and more high-profile projects in Lethbridge, said the soup kitchen expansion stands out among his portfolio.

“I’ve done grander buildings,” he said. “But this is one of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on because you see the impact immediately — and you understand why it matters.”