Soups On!
We reopened on Monday morning, October 11th at 11:00 am and served meals for the first time since March 19, 2020. When I saw our first volunteers arrive, I could hardly wait to show them our pantry, kitchen and dining area. After a short tour and orientation, we put our aprons and hats on and began to gather ingredients, pots and pans, bowls and utensils and began work on our meal of Tuna Noodle Casserole, peaches, salad and oatmeal raising cookies. Our Assistant Director took the lead in setting up the dining room - sanitizing and place settings, then the coffee and tea water began to brew.
The best part of the day came when we unlocked the door for guests to enter. For some, it was like coming home, for others it was the first time to experience our hospitality. It was such a joy to show our guests to the dining room a place for sharing meals and conversation - safe, warm and comfortable. For that hour together, a respite from their struggles, a nourishing meal in their bellies, and the experience of being seen, heard, supported and cared for, before leaving to face the rest of their day.
I did not anticipate how emotional reopening would be for our guests and for our volunteers and staff. In some ways it was like gathering with family around the tables, we looked into each others eyes, and told each other how good it was to be together again.Our volunteers are finding the kitchen great space to prepare and work on meals. Our equipment is easy to operate and arranged for a good work plan. This kitchen is a huge asset which supports our mission of serving meals to people in need and building strong community relationships.
Our partnership with the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lansing is flourishing. We are thankful for their enthusiastic welcome and support in our new location. Together we are working to serve people who hunger in South Lansing. Thank you to all of our SCK on the Move Donors for making it possible for us to reopen in this beautiful new site. Our fundraising efforts for the coming year are designated toward purchasing food, supplies, compensating our amazing staff who provide direct services, and covering our indirect business costs. Thank you for keeping us strong and able to feed hungry people in Lansing.
We reopened on Monday morning, October 11th at 11:00 am and served meals for the first time since March 19, 2020. When I saw our first volunteers arrive, I could hardly wait to show them our pantry, kitchen and dining area. After a short tour and orientation, we put our aprons and hats on and began to gather ingredients, pots and pans, bowls and utensils and began work on our meal of Tuna Noodle Casserole, peaches, salad and oatmeal raising cookies. Our Assistant Director took the lead in setting up the dining room - sanitizing and place settings, then the coffee and tea water began to brew.
The best part of the day came when we unlocked the door for guests to enter. For some, it was like coming home, for others it was the first time to experience our hospitality. It was such a joy to show our guests to the dining room a place for sharing meals and conversation - safe, warm and comfortable. For that hour together, a respite from their struggles, a nourishing meal in their bellies, and the experience of being seen, heard, supported and cared for, before leaving to face the rest of their day.
I did not anticipate how emotional reopening would be for our guests and for our volunteers and staff. In some ways it was like gathering with family around the tables, we looked into each others eyes, and told each other how good it was to be together again.Our volunteers are finding the kitchen great space to prepare and work on meals. Our equipment is easy to operate and arranged for a good work plan. This kitchen is a huge asset which supports our mission of serving meals to people in need and building strong community relationships.
Our partnership with the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lansing is flourishing. We are thankful for their enthusiastic welcome and support in our new location. Together we are working to serve people who hunger in South Lansing. Thank you to all of our SCK on the Move Donors for making it possible for us to reopen in this beautiful new site. Our fundraising efforts for the coming year are designated toward purchasing food, supplies, compensating our amazing staff who provide direct services, and covering our indirect business costs. Thank you for keeping us strong and able to feed hungry people in Lansing.
Our mission is to provide well-balanced, nourishing meals to the hungry people of Lansing in a caring, dignified environment where they are reassured of their worth as God's unique works of creation.
Since 1987, the Southside Community Kitchen has worked to bring caring people from the community together to feed the hungry. Supported by a part time staff of five, 35 local church groups, several community service groups, and over 160 committed volunteers, multiple partner organizations and individuals who feed hungry people through their financial donations the Southside Community Kitchen. Because of the Covid-19 we are closed to protect those we serve, our volunteers and staff. Working in our community and making a difference in the lives of community members through meeting some of the nutritional needs of those struggling with food insecurity is our mission and we are eager to return to preparing meals when it is safe to return to work.
Sadly, statistics show that one in seven working adults cannot adequately feed their families. One child in five goes to bed hungry in the Lansing area. More than half of the people fed by Michigan's food banks are children. Our senior citizens are also at risk--too many seniors lack the financial or physical ability to feed themselves adequately. The majority of adults served at the kitchen live on less than $1000 per month. The Southside Commuity Kitchen helps needy Lansing seniors to get regular, well-balanced meals.
Our funding comes from various local community foundations - Capital Region Community Foundation, The Dart Foundation, The Savage Foundation, and Granger Foundation, Jackson National Foundation, Ingham Community Agency Grant and the CROP Walk. Further funding and in-kind donations come from churches, Kiwanis Clubs, The Greater Lansing Food Bank, H.O.P.E. (Help Other People Eat), Valuland, church grants, and many individual and community group donors.
We serve between 200 - 250 meals each week to hungry people of all ages, who are unable to physically prepare their meals, do not have the skills to prepare balanced meals, or who are needing to stretch their limited resources. Last year we served over 13,000 meals because of the support from caring people in our community.
Please join us in our mission, making sure that no hungry person in our community must suffer from hunger.
Sadly, statistics show that one in seven working adults cannot adequately feed their families. One child in five goes to bed hungry in the Lansing area. More than half of the people fed by Michigan's food banks are children. Our senior citizens are also at risk--too many seniors lack the financial or physical ability to feed themselves adequately. The majority of adults served at the kitchen live on less than $1000 per month. The Southside Commuity Kitchen helps needy Lansing seniors to get regular, well-balanced meals.
Our funding comes from various local community foundations - Capital Region Community Foundation, The Dart Foundation, The Savage Foundation, and Granger Foundation, Jackson National Foundation, Ingham Community Agency Grant and the CROP Walk. Further funding and in-kind donations come from churches, Kiwanis Clubs, The Greater Lansing Food Bank, H.O.P.E. (Help Other People Eat), Valuland, church grants, and many individual and community group donors.
We serve between 200 - 250 meals each week to hungry people of all ages, who are unable to physically prepare their meals, do not have the skills to prepare balanced meals, or who are needing to stretch their limited resources. Last year we served over 13,000 meals because of the support from caring people in our community.
Please join us in our mission, making sure that no hungry person in our community must suffer from hunger.
