St. Catharines Greek restaurant prepares 1,500 meals for people in need

A Greek restaurant in St. Catharines rang in the new year by preparing to serve about 1,500 hot meals for people in need.

Joe Feta’s Greek Village on Lake Street in St. Catharines was packed Wednesday as volunteers and staff members worked to prepare and distribute nearly 1,500 meals.

Rob Hubbert is one of the organizers of the free food giveaway.

He says this is the fifth year in a row that they’ve handed out food and each year it keeps getting bigger and bigger.

“So we did 50 meals that day and it’s just gone,” Hubbert told CHCH News.

“350, 500, 900. And today we’re going to be around the 1,500 mark of people in Niagara Falls, Welland, Thorold, St. Catharines who will be getting hot meals today.”

One of the restaurant’s owners Kathy Kountouris-McCormack says a classic Joe Feta’s dish is on the menu.

“So today they’re cooking and serving a pork stew with some vegetables and some white rice,” she said. “So it’s delicious – I may have tested it earlier.”

Among the 30 volunteers at the restaurant are a few members of the junior-age lacrosse players from Saint Catharine Athletics.

Tye Steenhuis says he feels blessed for the chance to give back to the community, and Isaac Prantera agreed saying he was happy to be able to help as a group.

“We’re doing it to help the people who need it most, right?” Prantera said.

Kountouris-McCormack says she hopes the initiative inspires others in the community, and Hubbert says he has plans to continue helping those in the community.

“What would make me so happy is that we open this up to – let’s say – the Meridian Centre (in St. Catharines) and we invite hundreds of people to come, and don’t ask questions and just feed them that day,” he said.

While homelessness continues to be an issue in the Niagara region, Hubbert says he’s happy that the restaurant and volunteers are able to play a role.