Celebrating 35 years of Service
The Southside Community kitchen began serving meals in August of 1987. Since that time we have moved three times, served thousands of full and delicious meals, worked alongside hundreds of volunteers, and are grateful everyday for the caring community of people who support our mission with their money, time, and donations in kind. In the past year we have received funding from congregations, organizations, and local grants.
Like everyone, we are experiencing the burden of the increased cost of food and supplies. Our cost per meal for food has jumped from $1.05 in June to $1.75 in September! We are always thankful for donations - and when we all work together everyone gets fed! We have downsized our staff from 5 to 4 part -time positions. Executive Director, Marcia Beer; Assistant Director, JoAnne Boss, Lead Cook, Corey Kittley Hassenger, and Custodian, Tim Beer. We have increased our volunteer base to over 170 people!
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. Our partnership with the Meridian Farmers Market provided us with fresh fruit and vegetable all summer long. We also participate in Panera of Okemos Doughnation Program and get amazing baked good each Monday. We are exploring other partnership in an effort to keep our food costs under control. Thank you for keeping us strong and able to feed hungry people in Lansing.
The Southside Community kitchen began serving meals in August of 1987. Since that time we have moved three times, served thousands of full and delicious meals, worked alongside hundreds of volunteers, and are grateful everyday for the caring community of people who support our mission with their money, time, and donations in kind. In the past year we have received funding from congregations, organizations, and local grants.
Like everyone, we are experiencing the burden of the increased cost of food and supplies. Our cost per meal for food has jumped from $1.05 in June to $1.75 in September! We are always thankful for donations - and when we all work together everyone gets fed! We have downsized our staff from 5 to 4 part -time positions. Executive Director, Marcia Beer; Assistant Director, JoAnne Boss, Lead Cook, Corey Kittley Hassenger, and Custodian, Tim Beer. We have increased our volunteer base to over 170 people!
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. Our partnership with the Meridian Farmers Market provided us with fresh fruit and vegetable all summer long. We also participate in Panera of Okemos Doughnation Program and get amazing baked good each Monday. We are exploring other partnership in an effort to keep our food costs under control. 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 Savage Foundation, and Granger 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), 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. Since re-opening a year ago we've served over 9,000 meals.
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 Savage Foundation, and Granger 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), 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. Since re-opening a year ago we've served over 9,000 meals.
Please join us in our mission, making sure that no hungry person in our community must suffer from hunger.
