Saint John soup kitchen in money crunch

One of Saint John's longest-running soup kitchens has fallen on hard times and may soon be forced to lay off its full-time staff.

Carolyn McNulty, executive director and founder of Romero House, said Wednesday there isn't enough money coming in from donors to keep the eight paid employees.

The organization, which serves up to 300 people every day,also operates with about 100 volunteers.

McNulty said Romero House relies on donors and does not receive any government money.

"We never know where anything is coming from, and we do have regular donors, but they're not pledges. But they just keep up that amount that they give us over their own volition," she said.

"And that's what we're relying on. Were not government-assisted in any way."

Romero Househas sent an emergency appeal letter to regular donors in an effort to raise more money.

"The people who drop off donations were way down donations that come in are from people who walk in off the street and it's made us very short in financial areas. So I had to let the staff know if things didnt improve by the middle of August, that we're facing layoffs," she said.

Romero House opened in 1982 and was only supposed to run for a couple of winters. But the need was so great it had to expand. In 1990, it moved to a new location, all paid for by the community.