A Summer of Heat and Hardship: Supporting Our Community in Times of Crisis

This summer has been a hot one. Although we have benefited from the bountiful gardens and produce donated to our Community Kitchen by area churches, farms, youth groups and family farms, we have also witnessed, first hand, the continuing struggles of the population we serve.

Our kitchen became a cooling center for much of the month of August. We remained open to anyone needing a cool place to stay between 9:00 am – 5:30 pm. We provided charging stations for phones and gave out cases of water that had previously been donated to us. Imagine, living in your car, not being able to sleep because you don’t have enough money for gas to run the air conditioner during the heat waves we have had. Or, sitting outside in the heavy rains we recently experienced. Thunder and lightning all around, and very little coverage. Living in tents, cardboard boxes, under a building. It has been a nightmare for many. Homelessness is growing in our area and there is really no place for our patrons to go for relief.

We have served many meals this month, and just as importantly, we have sat with people, listening to their needs, made phone calls to assist, and done the best we could do to provide safety and comfort. Still, we haven’t made a dent into helping as much as is needed. Resources are scarce and finances even scarcer. Homelessness and food insecurity are a crisis we are facing in Vernon, the entire state and our country.

Thank you so much for your continued support to our Kitchen. Your donations make what we do possible. Providing healthy meals can be the introduction we need to meet those who need additional help. Sharing a meal with our patrons helps us attempt to assist them with the many other additional areas of concern they have. At the very least, we become a sounding board for conversations of frustration and heartache. Please continue to pray for those we minister too.

We are committed to continuing to provide a safe place for them to come together.

Pat Kupec

Community Kitchen Director