Kitchen Stories

Kitchen Stories

America's Soup Kitchens

It was a sunny cool Saturday. I decided to wander the streets of Richmond, VA looking for our new soup kitchen home. This Saturday was especially beautiful, the sun was out, the air warm, and a cool warm breeze blew through the trees. I searched the city streets this fine day not really sure what or if I would find what GOD had asked me to do, to open a soup kitchen and feed "Americas Hungry". Unfortunately, most of my day was unsuccessful but I did see what appeared to be a few homeless about but certainly not what I had hoped to find. My wandering eventually lead me to a park in the heart of the city (Monroe Park) and what looked like a gathering place for the homeless and hungry. I decided to park my car and stroll through the park and find out for myself if this park was in fact home to the homeless and hungry. I walked the entire park and no one seemed to notice or speak a word. I thought to myself maybe this day is just so beautiful that these citizens are out enjoying this fine day. Not being sure, I went back to my car and sat for awhile watching the activity at the park. I was about to return home when a large white van pulled in front of me into the park and stopped. I watched with great anticipation as more cars and vans entered the park. Suddenly, as the cars poured in, the citizens in the park all approached and gathered around these vehicles. Then, before my eyes, I saw groups of people get out of their cars and begin to set up a mobile soup kitchen line for the homeless and hungry in the park. Wow, what an amazing site, two local churches feeding these fine people in this park. The hungry received soup, bread, beverage, hand lotion and a chap stick. I spent the rest of my time taking pictures and engaging in conversation with the church members and homeless. I was able to find out that this event takes place each Sabbath around 3:30 pm in Monroe Park in Richmond, VA. I spoke to Leonard, and was informed that this mobile soup kitchen event has happened every Saturday for the past three years, rain or shine, by a group of church goers. WOW! I would like to thank Leonard and the church from the Meadow Bridge Seventh-Day Adventist Church of Mechanicsville and The Ephesus Seventh Day Adventist Church for taking the time each week to feed "Americas Hungry" You will certainly see me helping at this event.

Z Steve Kovats

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