Regina Williams spoke
quietly, but passionately, about Washington Heights
Community Ministries' soup kitchen.
"I know it's getting to be
cold outside. I know people are going to be hungry," the
36-year-old said. "I felt like, this is my neighborhood. I
gotta help."
Williams of Battle Creek
collected more than 300 names of people who also hoped to
see the soup kitchen at 153 N. Wood St. stay open.
This week, Pastor James
Richie, the ministries' executive director, announced the
already lean operation would serve its last hot meal of the
year on Thursday. The nearly 75 people who ate there daily
would have had one less source of a free meal.
But thanks to a $32,000
United Way of Greater Battle Creek donation out of its
emergency fund and at least $8,500 in individual donations,
the ladling won't stop for the next eight to 10 months.
"Does that mean we do not
have a last meal today?" Richie asked Mike Larson, the local
United Way's president and chief professional officer.
"It sure does," he replied.
The soup kitchen had been
operating in the red since July, said the ministries' board
Chairman Gordon Rosberg Jr. and Vice Chairwoman Loretta Lee.
To help make ends meet,
Washington Heights United Methodist Church cut the
ministries' rent in half, which brought the deficit down,
Rosberg said.
Richie said the seniors' bus,
which needs repair, is being sold for $1,500 and a driver
was laid off. He said he hopes the Community Action Agency
of South Central Michigan will be able to cover some meals
and transportation for their seniors instead.
Other ministries, such as a
children's after-school program, in which about 30 kids
participate, will continue relatively unaffected thanks to a
group of parents helping with hot meals twice a week, Richie
said.
Originally published in the
Battle Creek Enquirer, November 2, 2007
reprinted with permission from the Battle Creek Enquirer
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