In 2001, Kathleen Pratt LeGrow, on behalf of the LeGrow family, approached the Outreach Committee of George Street United Church regarding the Church’s plan to remodel the church lecture hall and the existing kitchen to begin an outreach program based on offering weekly meals. On behalf of the family and as a dedication to her late brother, Jimmy Pratt, Kathleen offered to provide the necessary funding to carry out renovations and bring the kitchen up to the required commercial standards.
In January 2002, the Jimmy Pratt Memorial Outreach Centre served its first weekly meal, and some 45 patrons were served.
The Centre has grown tremendously since it began, as the need for support services for those facing challenges in everyday life has increased. We continue with the Friday Soup Kitchen thanks to our rotating sponsors (The Delta Hotel St. John’s, The Sheraton Hotel St. John’s, NL Hydro) and have added a Monday Breakfast Program (sponsored by Cenovus Energy). We also offer a Seniors Inclusion Program every Wednesday.
Our Values
The Jimmy Pratt Memorial Outreach Centre is an incorporated body and registered charity dedicated to supporting individuals who need help managing the challenges of everyday life. We are committed to realistic values and a Vision and Mission, as provided below.
Vision:
As a result of extensive programming, we aspire to support all residents of the downtown core, including people living in boarding houses, those with no fixed addresses, those living below the poverty level and those simply unable to face the challenges of everyday life. The Centre offers a friendly, warm and welcoming place to go during the week where they are treated with respect and provided with services to help improve their health and welfare.
Mission:
Our mission at the Jimmy Pratt Centre is to provide hot, nutritious meals and other support services to those in need while treating our patrons with kindness and respect. We strive to improve the spiritual, physical, and emotional well-being of those we serve.
Major Goals:
We are a self-sustaining Centre, helped by corporate sponsors, fundraising, donations, and community program support from various government departments and agencies.
- Prepare nutritious meals twice weekly.
- Serve nutritious meals in a warm, friendly environment.
- Interact with clients in a friendly but nonintrusive manner.
- Serve all those that come to the centre.