Ron and Delphine Dame remember the first ever soup kitchen they offered in Terrace's George Little Park.
"Eight people. A small pot of soup and a loaf of bread," says Delphine Dame of that day on a Sunday in September 1996.
The Bread of Life Soup Kitchen, affiliated with the Seventh Day Adventist Church, has grown substantially since then and is now firmly settled into the former carpenters' hall on Sparks St.
The hall was purchased by the Seventh Day Adventist Church five years ago in Dec. 2008 and is now called the All Nations Centre.
It's also been five years since the Terrace and District Community Services Society's homeless outreach program began renting the hall weekdays offering up food and programs of its own.
A pre-Christmas luncheon Dec. 23 complete with music by the Copper Mountain String Band and a visit by Santa helped mark the occasion.
Several projects have taken place over the past five years to maintain the building and this spring, the plan is to expand the structure, says Ron Dame.
"We have 10 freezers and fridges at our home. But having them here would be more efficient," he said.
This fall the centre took on a new role as the home for the winter damp shelter run by the Ksan House Society through financing provided by the provincial government.
Ten cots are set up each night in the hall.
"The same people who are here in the day can now stay at night. It makes sense," said Ron Dame.