By Marla Drury
It takes a little over 27 years, along with a mountain of dedication and support, to reach 10,000 consecutive days of service. On April 18th the Community Soup Kitchen and Outreach Center will mark this impressive milestone with a party in the dining room for the guests.
Much has changed in Morristown and at the Community Soup Kitchen over the years, but the primary mission has remained the same. Since its inception, the Soup Kitchen has been committed to providing nutritious meals in a warm, safe, and caring environment, free of charge, no questions asked to anyone who comes seeking nourishment.
The Challenges
The Community Soup Kitchen has proven itself by overcoming many obstacles along the way. They continued to serve through blizzards, flooding, sweltering heat, and power outages. They’ve also overcome longer term challenges. Three major recessions have swelled the number of guests and driven up costs.
More recently, they redesigned cooking, storing and serving procedures to accommodate the new Board of Health requirements. Faithful volunteers have been there every step of the way, adapting to the changes to ensure that all of the guests are served a safe and healthy meal.
Additionally, they are kicking off their new “Kitchen to Kitchen” program, where local restaurants and caterers are preparing and donating entrees and soup to the Soup Kitchen — this is in response to the Board of Health, which no longer allows the kitchen to accept donations of perishable food prepared by volunteers at home.
Finding Solutions
The Soup Kitchen is more than a safety net – it is a large, close-knit family. Over the years, the number and diversity of guests has increased dramatically. Today the dining room still provides a safe haven for the homeless and mentally ill, but it is also filled with entire families, and the working poor each day. As the Soup Kitchen population has grown and changed they have kept pace by adding an Outreach Center which assists guests with accessing community resources, services, and educational programs. By empowering guests now, many will live more independently in the future.
Keep the Streak Alive!
The Soup Kitchen’s longstanding success is only possible thanks to the generous support and energy of volunteers: the member congregations, hundreds of local businesses, and thousands of individuals.
Help Celebrate 10,000 Consecutive Days!
*In celebration of the Community Soup Kitchen & Outreach Center’s 10,000 consecutive days of never missing a day, the Soup Kitchen is holding a food drive to fill the Toyota van they recently won.
All items collected will be distributed to guests on April 18th, at the 10,000-day celebration. Donations of canned foods can be dropped off on Tuesday, April 17th, between the hours of 9 am to 11 a.m. or 1 pm to 3 p.m., to the van that will be parked in front of the Soup Kitchen, at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer at 36 South St. To see a list of the most needed items, visit www.cskmorristown.org.
*They have started an on-line food drive in honor of the special day. Visit:
https://www.yougivegoods.com/Celebrating10000DaysOfNeverMissingADay
*Come celebrate the Community Soup Kitchen and Outreach Center’s history and help launch the next 10,000 days at their annual cocktail buffet/silent auction fundraiser on April 19th at 6 p.m. at The Madison Hotel. For more info or tickets, visit their website at www.cskmorristown.org.
