Fall Update from the Kitchen!

Dear Friends of St. John’s,

Apologies for the lack of correspondence these past few months as our energies have been directed to coping with the new “normal” of the ongoing pandemic. I just want to let everyone know that St. John’s Soup Kitchen has remained open 5 days a week throughout this difficult period. The St. John’s team decided back in March that it was necessary to keep the kitchen open to provide the most vulnerable among us with meals, face coverings, toiletries, and clothing.

I want to thank all the individual volunteers that have taken it upon themselves to help in this time of great need. When the pandemic began, all volunteer groups were forced to cancel. This resulted in less meals, and less volunteers to serve meals to our guests. This exacerbated the strain caused by the pandemic, and we are grateful to all of you who recognized this and contributed in any way you were able to. We are, however, unsure what this coming winter season will bring.

As with other organizations, the pandemic affected all areas of operation at the Soup Kitchen. St. John’s was forced to close the Men’s Dining Room, Women and Children’s Center, and Health Center out of concern for the safety of our guests and volunteers. The Health Center has since re-opened on a modified schedule, providing vital services. We have changed the way we serve meals at the kitchen, combining both breakfast and lunch into one service running from 10:30am-12:30pm. Combining the two meal services keeps the line moving and limits interactions, helping to keep our guests and volunteers safe. St. John’s has served a hot meal every day since the pandemic began and will continue to do so as long as our doors are open. In addition, we have, with massive help from our community, been serving bagged lunches which typically include a sandwich, fruit, a snack, and a dessert. Moving forward, St. John’s will have to limit the number of volunteers permitted on the property at any given time. Our goal is to keep everyone healthy and safe until this pandemic ends. Please feel free to email or call with any questions or concerns.

Be safe and be strong my friends,

Pete Dobbs

Director