NORWICH – The Norwich Community Soup Kitchen will open for the season tomorrow. Dinner will be served at the St. Bartholomew’s Parish Center, located at 81 East Main St., every Tuesday at 5 p.m. through the end of May.
While the free dinners are served at five, the parish center opens to the public an hour earlier. “People can come in and visit before they eat; it’s a social time,” said coordinator and long-time volunteer JoAnn Testani. “Everyone is welcome,” she added.
Last week, the parish hosted a volunteer meeting in preparation for the opening of the soup kitchen. “There were a lot of people at the meeting, around 40,” said the group’s treasurer and record keeper Deborah Trythall. “We usually get a lot of adult volunteers plus a number of Morrisville students and Norwich High schoolers. The BOCES special needs group also comes in around 10 a.m. to help set up,” she added.
“The other volunteers spoil me when I cook by cleaning up after me, and then I go home to cook and think what a mess!” laughed coordinator and volunteer cook Dorothy Loiselle.
Roots and Wings of Chenango County participates by sending representatives to attend the dinners and inform people of available services they, along with other organizations, provide. Since Roots and Wings has been attending the St. Bartholomew dinners, they have noticed more people coming to their own programs, said Testani.
Although the organization is called the Norwich Community Soup Kitchen, they never actually serve soup. Instead, potluck-style dinners are provided free to attendees. Organizers thought about changing the name, but realized that it was better to keep what people were familiar with. “I also can’t stress enough that these good, hot meals are completely free for everyone,” said Testani.
The free suppers are funded entirely by grants, donations, and the New York State Central Food Bank.
“Some of the grants come from United Way, the Follett Foundation, and the food bank, but we are always hopeful that individuals will find it in their hearts to donate,” said Trythall.
People often call the night before to ask what is going to be served for dinner. Tomorrow, for opening night, biscuits and sausage gravy along with mashed potatoes, vegetables, and brownies for dessert will be served. There will also be coffee, tea, and orange juice to drink. Next week, it’ll be scalloped potatoes and ham, with vegetables, and cake for dessert.
“It’s like a restaurant; everyone is a dinner guest,” said Loiselle. “We also give out whatever people donate to us, like fruit and yogurt.” Roots and Wings also donates fresh baked goods that are given to people attending the Tuesday night dinners.
“We function solely on the good will of others. The only reason we can operate is because of other people’s generosity,” said Trythall. The parish asks that anyone willing to make a donation either drop it off at St. Bart’s or St. Paul’s, or if they want to, they can mail a check to 78 Pleasant Street in Norwich.
For more information, call 334-7556.