After months of preparation, Lakeside Church is finally ready to open the doors to Lakeside HOPE House in downtown Guelph.

Standing for Helping Overcome Poverty Everywhere, HOPE House will serve the community as an extension of the north end church’s care ministry. It will operate out of the stone church that for generations was home to Norfolk Street United Church. Early this year, Lakeside announced plans to purchase the historic church.

The official grand opening of Lakeside HOPE House, 75 Norfolk St., is on Saturday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. It will include a dedication service at 2 p.m., refreshments and tours of the facility.

A significant part of the organization will be its Food Market. In keeping with the HOPE House values of treating everyone with compassion and dignity, the market will be a choice-based food pantry where clients are able to “shop” for the food they need and want, a news release said.

The organization’s staff and volunteers “are excited to provide a safe and caring environment, a real sense of community, where all clients feel accepted and are moving towards a greater sense of independence where possible, through education and mentoring,” it said.

HOPE House plans to work with other agencies, advocacy groups and businesses to provide a voice for poverty in the community.