A Maplewood church is preparing to bring free meals to their neighborhood.
Maplewood Pentecostal Church of God Pastor Philip Centers, and his wife, Mary, are transforming their former fellowship hall, at 2150 Yale Avenue, into “The Branch Kitchen,” and it’s all with donations.
Pastor Centers said last year a former member of the church gave them money to start a kitchen to feed anyone who might need an occasional free meal — the unemployed, those having trouble making ends meet, the homeless.
That donation and donated kitchen equipment, paint from Home Depot, a cargo van from a Fenton church and architect Barry Greenberg’s services — Centers estimates comes to $175,000.
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“We’ll have a drop ceiling with all new lights, and the old duct work will all be torn out, new electrical, the floor will be painted with little glitter sparkles in there. It’s gonna look fantastic, with everything new in the kitchen,” he said.
“It’s not any credit for us because we’re just coordinators. It wasn’t our money, but all of the coordinating did fall to us,” he said. “If we’re just the instruments to bring it together, how can we say no?”
They’re looking for an executive director to help run it and get the word out. The kitchen will be organized as a not for profit.
“Once a month is not enough,” Centers said. “I want someone that can find out the big need, and if we need to go once a week, or twice a week, then that person can help organize the food and the volunteers. I think the volunteer pool is going to be huge. We are hoping to feed everybody, but our hope is to really find the ones that need the help.”
Mary said there are a lot of seniors in the area, “And especially if they’re on a lot of medications, sometimes it may come down to, ‘do I eat this meal?’ This is a chance, for at least once a month, they can come and eat without having to worry about paying a bill,” she said.
She said they should be able to serve their first meal around the end of March. They’re planning a big meal to kick it off to help get the word out.
Mary, Maybe the St Vincent De Paul Society at Immaculate Conception Church here in Maplewood can help you get the word out. I would love to help you all in anyway that I can. Thank you for all that you are doing and plan to do! Mary Killian( Lindsey’s DB co-worker)
So wonderful. Will you have wishlists for food or will you be asking for donations for groceries that the kitchen buys itself? For those of us who might not have the time to volunteer, this would be a great option to help you.
Thank you there will always be a need for monetary donations to cover purchasing food, and fiances for utilities of operation. Disposable plates, bowls, plastic siver ware, napkins, disposable cups, Can vegatables, fruits.
Thanks for asking.
Sounds like a good volunteering project for me and my kids. And its in my community
We would love to have you volunteer! Thank you. We have volunter application on our website at http://www.maplewoodbranch.org or you can email us at [email protected]
-Mary Centers, Co-Director of The Branch Kitchen
When it opens.. I will volunteer regularly.
We would love to have you volunteer! Thank you. We have volunter applications available on our website at http://www.maplewoodbranch.org or you can email us at [email protected]
-Mary Centers, Vice President of The Branch Kitchen
I would like to respond about applying for the executive director.
Please let me know how I can get more information.
Thank you.
You can send a resume to [email protected]