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Kathy Connors retires from the Yorkton Soup Haven

Kathy Connors has been part of the Soup Haven for sixteen and a half years, feeding thousands of Yorkton children and families.
Kathy Connors
Kathy Connors has retired from the Soup Haven after 16 years. The schools in the Good Spirit School Division recognized her service to the hungry children and families within the community.

Kathy Connors has been part of the Soup Haven for sixteen and a half years, feeding thousands of Yorkton children and families. Now she is  stepping down from her role at the helm of the kitchen, and was recently thanked by the schools in the community for her years of hard work.

Connors says she doesn’t want to take credit for what has been accomplished with the Soup Haven over the past sixteen years, saying it’s about much more than just her and what she has done.

“I don’t see myself as an important person. I see the partners that we made as what made the Soup Haven possible. It isn’t about me, it’s about God and what He has done through the community. I accept appreciation on behalf of everyone else who has contributed, but I don’t like to take glory for it.”

The whole thing began because a group of people realized that there was a need in the community to feed people, especially students, and Connors and others took the chance to get involved because they saw it as something that could have a real impact.

“It’s always been my dream to have a soup kitchen.”

That impact could be felt in the room, as current students as well as those now grown came up to Connors to thank her for her role in feeding them over the years. She notes that some people find it difficult to admit that they needed help in the past, but when she meets someone who was part of the program who is now grown and healthy, it’s a wonderful feeling.

Poverty is prevalent throughout the community, and Connors says it’s not going to be obvious to people who don’t see the families that are struggling to make ends meet and feed themselves.

“There are a lot of things going on in society today that is burdensome to families. If we could lift that load just a little bit, just a fraction. Try to help these kids and try to encourage them to get an education, because that’s the only way to break the cycle of poverty.”

Feeding kids is about more than just food, it’s about giving kids a chance for that education. She notes that some kids would only have a meal through the Soup Haven, and if they didn’t eat they would have difficulty in school and would be unable to get that education.

The Soup Haven is bigger than Connors, of course, and will continue on under the leadership of Marilyn Dyck, who Connor describes as her right hand for the past twelve years.

“She’s going to be over-qualified to do the job.”

While she says that she will eventually find a new way to be involved in the community, for now she plans on focusing on being a grandmother.