You can help: How to enjoy a good meal

There’s some good news and not-so-good news on the Community Soup Kitchen.

The good news is that the Soup Kitchen has a good cadre of eight to 10 volunteers on hand each day to feed its 100 or so patrons.

With continuing donations of food from businesses and summer gardeners enjoying good yeilds, the cupboard is adequately stocked.

On the not-so-good side, summer is the off season for financial support. And the ongoing operating expenses don’t fluctuate — not the least of which are the periodic payments required to pay off the debt incurred when the Soup Kitchen renovated the rear portion of the old synagogue downtown to serve as a kitchen and dining area.

Andrea Heekin, president of the Community Kitchen, said that while expenses are rather constant, financial contributions peak during the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

During the spring and summer, people are less likely to think of charities. And income tends to dry up.

But that dilemma offers some opportunities. Having trouble thinking of a birthday gift for a friend who “has everything”? Or want to do “something special” but unexpected for someone?

How about a $200 donation (the approximate cost for a day’s meals) to the Community Soup Kitchen, and have that person’s name posted on the wall that day. It could be a good way for a club to honor a member or a Sunday school class to salute a faithful teacher.

Often times at our family tables, a prayer includes asking Divine Providence to look after the needs of more unfortunate. That could include virtually all of those who come to the Community Soup Kitchen each day ...

Perhaps some families will consider making their own contribution to helping the hungry by now and then discussing at meal time a donation to the Soup Kitchen.

These, considered separately, may seem rather insignificant. But in the aggregate, they can make a tremendous and ongoing difference.

They not only can help feed the hungry in our community — but probably will make our own meals especially pleasant.

A good way to start would be to call the Soup Kitchen at 731-3939, or Andrea Heekin at 738-5805. Or just send a check to Community Soup Ktchen, P.O. Box 1064, Goldsboro, NC 27533.

Published in Editorials on June 28, 2006 1:01 PM