One of the founders of the Fredericton Community Kitchen says its slew of volunteers from across the province has helped keep the operation going for the last 30 years.

It served its first meal on Dec. 8, 1982.

George Piers, one of the kitchen's founders, said the kitchen has helped a lot of people get back on their feet and cut down on shoplifting.

Piers said they have about 170 volunteers.

“Sometimes I have no idea what to do with the volunteers. You have groups that want to come in. You have to try to work them in and they're anywhere from the Miramichi to Moncton to Woodstock to Hartland to even Saint John, who want to come in and supply a meal and do the volunteer work to put the meal on the table,” he said.

Piers said he meets former guests all over the country who have turned their lives around and now give back to keep the service going.

“One young man (we) worked several years with him actually, almost gave up on him a few times. Now he's finishing his second year of nursing. Brilliant. And these are the things that keep myself going, and keep others going.”

The kitchen said it serves about 225 meals a day.