Published: August 28, 2008 02:01 am            

No one turned away

Soup Opera to celebrate 25 years of service with Sept. 7 open house

FAIRMONT — Over two decades ago, a group of volunteers from three area Methodist churches formed a group whose mission was to feed the hungry.

The group received its first donation in the form of $500 from Jackie Yeager, who was closing the Senior Aides Program in the county. The group took the donation and soon began serving the needy from a hallway in a building downtown, cooking the food on a regular household stove, said Sharon Zaccagnini, one of the original volunteers.

Now, 25 years later that small group of volunteers feeding the hungry has grown into a Marion County institution, the Soup Opera. The organization will be holding an open house Sept. 7 from 2 to 4 p.m. in celebration of its 25 years of service, said Vicky Steele, Soup Opera director.

Everyone in the community is invited to attend the open house to see how the organization operates, Steele said. She added that tours of the building will be given.

“And if anyone has a question about the Soup Opera, that’s the day to come in and get it answered,” she said.

Steele pointed out that the parking lot adjacent to the Soup Opera will be closed during the open house. However, parking is available in lots surrounding the building, she said.

Steele called the Soup Opera one of the most valuable assets for the community. She pointed out that the organization not only provides a hot meal to anyone who comes through the doors, but the agency also distributes clothes and food from the pantry to those in need.

“And we’re open 365 days a year,” Steele said. “Someone is here cooking meals every day to make sure people have something to eat.”

In fact, the organization’s mission is to make sure that every person has a least one hot meal a day, she added. She also pointed out that no one, regardless of financial situation, who comes through the doors looking for that hot meal will be turned away.

The Soup Opera provides services to around 2,000 people per month, Steele said. And although she said the number of people served did dip slightly through the summer, which is common, she expects the amount of people needing assistance from the Soup Opera to increase in the days to come.

“We’re starting to see new faces here,” Steele said. “Times are just getting tougher.”

The organization also provides more than food and clothing to the needy. Soup Opera volunteers and employees also distributed school supplies to about two dozen children recently, Steele said. Shower and laundry facilities are also available by appointment. Hygiene products are also given out every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1 to 3 p.m.

The clothing store also operates on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 1 to 3 p.m. All clothing is distributed free of charge, Steele said. Food is distributed from the pantry every third Friday of the month starting at 9:30 a.m.

Steele pointed out that since the organization provides such a wide range of services, they are always in need of donations and volunteers. She added that although the food pantry is well stocked at the moment, demand will increase greatly in the fall.

Volunteers are also desperately needed by the Soup Opera, Steele added. She pointed out that the organization depends on volunteers in order to operate.

Pastor Chris Duckworth has been volunteering at the Soup Opera for around three years. Duckworth said he began volunteering at the soup kitchen because some of the people in his congregation did.

“But after one or two times here I was hooked,” he said.

The local pastor has now taken his service beyond that of volunteering. He was recently installed on the Soup Opera board of directors. However, Duckworth continues to volunteer, saying that it helps to keep him grounded. He added that he encouraged everyone to give time to the local charity.

Anyone wishing to donate to the Soup Opera or volunteer can contact the organization at 367-1098.

E-mail Paul Fallon at pfallon@timeswv.com.

        

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