Last Friday started the weekend off with a free barbecue in Portage la Prairie held by Devoted to You Ministries on the front lawn of Highway Pentecostal Church on Saskatchewan Avenue. 

"I run a ministry called Devoted To You Ministries," says co-founder Ron Eldridge. "We're having a community barbecue so people can come and get to know us; what we are and what we do. We help the homeless and people living under the poverty line with whatever we can do for them, whether it be school supplies, clothing, and food."

Eldridge was once homeless, himself, and recovered by a similar ministerial effort.

He says the crowd Friday was a good few hundred at least.

Eldridge notes says the ministry's doing well and is already receiving donations including school supplies, clothing, and food. He says he currently has an office in Highway Pentecostal Church but is still looking for a building downtown where he can house people with dining rooms, a kitchen, and beds, adding their goal is to feed people every day.

Eldridge says he extends his thanks to all who've supported the ministry and says anyone else who'd like to support it can call him at (204) 750-1228.