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Soup kitchen sees increase in people needing food

Spaghetti fundraiser is Friday; Souper Bowl of Caring is Sunday

From Hickory Soup Kitchen

Published: January 28, 2009

HICKORY

Sam Wilson, manager of the Hickory Soup Kitchen, is seeing a huge increase in the number of people eating at the local soup kitchen.

Over the past six months, he has seen faces at the Hickory Soup Kitchen that he has never seen in the eight years he has worked there.

Wilson has seen a large increase in the number of older men and women and different ethnic groups coming to the soup kitchen and is also seeing an increasing number of children.

Wilson hears many of the clients of the Hickory Soup Kitchen say they are willing to work, but there are no jobs. One of the newer clients who had recently lost his job learned about an open position of dishwasher. The man applied for the job and is now an employee of the Hickory Soup Kitchen.

On another day, a client who has a young child came to the kitchen in tears. She had recently lost her job and her husband was in prison, so she had no way to pay her rent, make her car payment, or buy food. At the Hickory Soup Kitchen, she and her child are able to enjoy a hot meal each week day.

As the economy continues to be stressed, the numbers of those in need will continue to increase and there will be many more similar stories.

The Hickory Soup Kitchen was founded in 1983 by Mary Lou Dixon in an effort to feed the hungry in the Hickory area. During those early years, six area churches prepared and served meals on a rotation basis.

In 1985, the Hickory Soup Kitchen moved into its first home in the old Highland Fire Department building. In 1990, it moved to the current location at 131 Main Ave., NE.

The facility has a modern kitchen and a large attractive dining room.

The Hickory Soup Kitchen Board of Directors is hosting its 16th annual Spaghetti Dinner on Friday, from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event will be in the Hickory Soup Kitchen.

Cost of the meal is $8 and everyone is welcome to attend. Tickets can be purchased at the door.

Sunday is also an important date for the soup kitchen because it is the recipient of proceeds collected by area church youth on Souper Bowl Sunday. The Souper Bowl of Caring is a great opportunity to help feed the hungry people in the area. While Souper Bowl Sunday is a nationwide event, each congregation can designate the agency of its choice to receive its contributions.

For more information about the Hickory Soup Kitchen or how you can contribute, contact Sam Wilson at 828-327-4828.