Church, 2 residents team up to open soup kitchen
By Sean Ruppert, Staff Writer
HIGHTSTOWN Everyone deserves to be nourished.
That’s what Adrienne and Larry Cheshier, of Rock Run Road in East Windsor, believe. And that belief has led them to organize a new soup kitchen at the First Baptist Church of Hightstown for needy people in the area.
The kitchen will serve its inaugural meal Feb. 21, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and will then continue on the third Saturday of every month thereafter.
”I think that there is a growing need for people to have a hot meal in the horrific financial times,” Ms. Cheshier said. “The more I see and the more I hear, the more I think of it as a growing concern and a growing need.”
Ms. Cheshier said the first meal will be a spaghetti dinner that will hopefully include a salad and dessert. The meal well be served in the banquet hall of the South Main Street church, which just recently celebrated its 263rd anniversary.
Ms. Cheshier said Mr. Cheshier will be the chef, and that anyone who is in need is welcome to come enjoy the meal in a “welcoming place.”
”There will be no pre-qualifying or registration,” she said. “People can just come in, nothing will be required of anyone. Anyone who needs a hot meal can come and they will get a hot meal.”
Ms. Cheshier said she got the ball rolling on the idea by bringing it to the Rev. Bob Turton, who has been serving as interim pastor at their church since November. The Rev. Turton said he was immediately interested.
”When Larry and Adrienne came to me to talk about the soup kitchen, I got excited because this work is part of the ministry,” he said.
The Rev. Turton added that Jesus spoke in the Bible about helping those who are less fortunate.
”When we do things like this for other people, we are really doing it for the Lord,” the Rev. Turton said.
He said that while they will not be serving soup, they decided to call it a soup kitchen because they felt that everyone would better understand what it was.
He said he hopes the soup kitchen will become more than a once-a-month venture.
Ms. Cheshier said about a dozen volunteers have offered to help thus far.
”It’s been amazing, everywhere I go and mention it, people say, ‘Oh can I help?’ and I say, ‘Yes you can,’” she said.
Ms. Cheshier said she has received some food and monetary donations from individuals, but is still in need of more food.
Anyone interested in donating funds or time can contact her at 301-8761, or call the church at 448-0103.