Halifax Good Samaritan donates dishwasher, saves community meal program

When Steve Williams heard that a Halifax program that provides meals to children and seniors in need was being shut down over its outdated dishwashing practices, the business owner immediately intervened — and donated a commercial dishwasher to keep the program running.

Earlier this week, CTV Atlantic reported that Ward 5 Neighbourhood Centre's meal program was being shut down by the Nova Scotia government after helping the community for nearly 40 years.

Organizers at the centre were told that they needed a food establishment permit, and could no longer serve food to community members until they upgraded their dishwashing practices to either include two extra sinks or a commercial dishwasher.

"We'd probably be looking at, to get a new one, and the carpentry work and electrical, probably $8,000," said executive director Doug MacDonald. "We don’t have that money."

The centre provides breakfast and lunch for up to 50 children a day. MacDonald worried that some of those children would have no access to meals if the program closed.

The centre also offers a daily hot meal program for seniors.

When Williams heard the news, he knew he could help.

"I thought of the dishwasher we actually had in storage," he said.

Williams told CTV Atlantic that the dishwasher had been donated to his Halifax church years ago, but had remained in storage after the church underwent a renovation. It is in good working condition.

"God obviously provided something before we knew what it was needed for," he added.

Williams not only donated the dishwasher, he also lined up a carpenter, electrician and plumber to install it at the centre.

MacDonald expressed his gratitude for the generous donation, and said he hopes to see the dishwasher installed and running within two weeks.

"People step up and I think it's such a blessing that people do," MacDonald said. "We're hoping this will get us up and rolling quick."