Bemidji Soup Kitchen

Volunteering is an experience you’ll never forget

By Taylor Klinke

  

In every community in our state, country, and world there are less fortunate people who aren’t able to feed themselves. With an unstable economy, many people have been losing their jobs and are forced to take other measures to round up food for their families. Thankfully many dedicated workers and companies are sponsoring soup kitchens in towns all over the world.

Soup kitchens began to appear in America in 1929 when the economy headed toward the Great Depression. At that time soup kitchens were found in every large city in America; however, the numbers have greatly decreased throughout the past several decades.

The Bemidji soup kitchen dates back approximately 20 years. It’s still up and running thanks to several devoted volunteers, including Gloria Joy, who has been working with the kitchen for 15 years. “I like working with the volunteers and talking to the folks who come to eat,” said Gloria Joy, “I think the only thing that I dislike is scrubbing floors.”

Originally there were only 25-30 people being served each week at the soup kitchen location in Bemidji. But with the help of people like Gloria - currently, about 450 servings are given each week.

According to Wilder Research – who conducted a statewide survey in 2009 – there are 9,654 homeless adults, youth, and children living in Minnesota. That number was a 25 percent increase over the 2006 study, so that number has likely increased in the past year or two.

Volunteers each night include Bemidji State University students, BTC students, high school students, and anyone else in the area who comes to help. But with an increasing number in people coming to enjoy the food each week, those volunteers are highly needed. Each night anywhere between 40-200 people can show up. 

The kitchen operates each Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 5:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. However, volunteers start showing up at 2:00 P.M.

Gloria Joy and a few others are the first to show up - they wrap silverware in napkins while sitting around a table and enjoying a cup of coffee. Meanwhile, Merrylynn Wenaas is in the kitchen getting all the food and utensils laid out. 

When more volunteers arrive – they split up into groups to set up tables and chairs, place tablecloths, set out salt and peppershakers, and if it’s a special holiday, each table is also decorated. “We want our guests to feel welcome,” said Gloria Joy.

As BSU and Bemidji high school students show up – they work in the kitchen buttering bread, making salad, and helping with the main course. It’s a very organized ordeal – as Gloria and Merrylynn help everyone with what they should be doing. When the food is ready, the group gathers in a huddle, puts their hands in the middle and yells “soup kitchen” before serving the guests.

When it’s serving time the volunteers and guests say a short prayer together before the food is dished out. Then each volunteer is in charge of something different – whether it is distributing the chicken, scooping up the mashed potatoes, or handing out the dessert. When each person goes through the line, a smile is exchanged and maybe a short conversation. After everyone has gone through the line for their first serving, volunteers can eat if they choose to.

When the room quiets down, the workers clean off each table and put the leftovers on plates for the guests to take if they want. Many people enjoy this option so they can take food on the go if they need to.

As the guests all leave, volunteers get  buckets of warm water and wipe down each table and sweep the floor – as others clean the dishes and the rest of the kitchen. Before they know it, another night is complete.

The food is purchased from the North Country Food Bank in Crookston, along with donations from Luekens and the Farmers Market. “We also get meat, bakery products, and grocery from Wal-Mart,” said Merrylynn Wenaas, a long-time cook at the kitchen.

The Bemidji soup kitchen is held at Mt. Zion Church (414 South Lincoln Avenue) on Monday and Tuesday, and the United Methodist Church (9th and Beltrami) each Thursday. 



The front of the United Methodist Church on 9th and Beltrami -
where the Bemidji soup kitchen is held each Thursday

Picture by Taylor Klinke

Side door of Methodist Church where kitchen and dining room are located
Photo by Taylor Klinke