The future of soup kitchen and drop-in centre in Oban has been secured for three years thanks to a £150,000 from the Big Lottery Fund.
Hope Kitchen provides food, shelter and companionship to vulnerable people in the town.
The grant will provide most of the running costs for the next three years.
With poverty growing, the kitchen catering for more people and the next step, with a little more fundraising, is to move from its currently location in Argyll Street to larger premises on Soroba Road.
They plan to relocate in January after raising a further £12,000.
Lorraine MacCormick, service manager, of Hope Kitchen, said: “We have been in existence for seven years and have been in our current premises for three years. We have just outgrown them. We are getting so busy we need to move to somewhere bigger.
“I think poverty is on the increase. We also see a lot of people who are lonely and quite isolated. That is a real problem in society. People are getting older, living longer, their friends are passing away, they need company, need people to spend time with.
“We see a lot more men than women. They have been widowed and they don’t cook. They come and see us and get a home cooked meal.”
Big Lottery Fund Scotland chairwoman, Maureen McGinn, said: “I am delighted that Hope Kitchen has been successful in securing a Big Lottery Fund grant. The funding will make a big difference where it is needed most and I wish the Hope Kitchen every success as it goes on to develop and expand its project for the benefit of their local community.”
The kitchen is run by two full time members of staff and 15 volunteers.
Mrs MacCormick said: “This grant is huge for us. It means that we can move into our new premises. We have previously been going for smaller grants of £1,000, £5,000 or £10,000. Because this is such a big grant, it really means we can relax a bit. It means there is certainty for the two members of staff and for the service users. “They know we are going to be open for the next three years.”
The kitchen has also started a Recovery Cafe for people in recovery from drug and alcohol problems, in a partnership with the support organisation Addaction.
Mrs MacCormick said: “We meet once a week for two hours on a Thursday. We focus on recovery. It is a peer support group.”
Hope Kitchen was recently named Organisation of the Year at the Argyll and Bute Volunteer of the Year awards.
