The Jericho Road Soup Kitchen at St. Gabriel's, Rutherfordton, is hopeful that kitchen renovations will soon be underway after receiving a $20,000 grant from the Episcopal Foundation of Western North Carolina.
The soup kitchen, which serves out of the parish hall at St. Gabriel's, is located in the New Hope Community of Rutherfordton. The soup kitchen was established over twenty years ago as a ministry to the community by Rev. Deacon Bobby Lynch and his wife, Helen Lynch. The kitchen currently serves 200 meals each week.
The soup kitchen is currently applying for grants and fundraising to renovate the kitchen to accommodate better the increasing demand for a hot, healthier meal in an area that does not have a grocery store within walking distance and limited to no sidewalks. The goal amount for the renovations is $150,000, and about $77,000 has been raised so far.
The renovation plans include updating and expanding the kitchen and making the bathroom ADA compliant.
Bobby and Helen continue to offer their leadership and guidance to this ministry based on their original idea. More information about the “Jericho Road” Soup Kitchen can be found on St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church’s website St. Gabriel's Soup Kitchen.
From the Vestry, Members of St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church and the rector:
It is with great pleasure that we announce that we have received the results of our grant application to The Fiscal Ministries Committee of the Diocese of Western North Carolina. We are the recipients of the grant in the amount of $20,000 from The Episcopal Foundation of Western North Carolina.
We are grateful that Fiscal Ministries has decided to generously support the ministry of St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church and the Jericho Road Soup Kitchen.
