SILOAM SPRINGS — Hopes are running high in Siloam Springs as parishioners and community members are enthusiastic about the future of a new ministry recently revealed at St. Mary Church.
On Friday, March 29, the parish opened the doors to HOPE’s Kitchen, a once-a-month soup kitchen designed to serve lunch to the poor, needy, elderly and unemployed of the area. The kitchen, operating out of the parish hall, currently has plans to serve lunch on the last Friday of every month from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. After distributing fliers and getting the word out, lunch was served to 51 individuals in March and on April 26, volunteers served 47 patrons who came to the kitchen during an afternoon downpour.
HOPE is an acronym for “Help Other People Enjoy” and this is the mission of the ministry and the goal of more than 25 volunteers who have become involved since its inception.
“It has been overwhelming how much people from our church have been interested in helping with this ministry,” said Marie Rollins, who was instrumental in starting the ministry since she suggested it to the parish council at the beginning of 2013.
And, Rollins said, it has been a bridge for the parish.
“It has brought both our Hispanic and Anglo communities together to work on a project everyone in the parish has supported,” she said.
The idea for HOPE’s Kitchen came to Rollins after a vacation to Branson, Mo., at Christmas, where she witnessed another small parish feeding the hungry and unemployed of the area. Inspired, she felt her parish had the resources to do something similar and presented it to the parish council. She went on a fact-finding mission to meet Pat Werner, a volunteer with the non-denominational Hunger and Thirst ministry in Siloam Springs.
“I met with her to find out what would be helpful to our community,” Rollins said.
After becoming familiar with how the operation was run and consulting with volunteers at the local food pantry, the Manna Center, Rollins felt almost ready.
But one key component, says Rollins, is the catechism.
“God’s love for the poor, as outlined in the Catholic catechism, is the basis of our mission statement,” she said.
The Church’s love for the poor, as stated by the catechism, is a part of her constant tradition. “When you stretch your hand to someone in need, you are giving a part of yourself to them. We pray this at the meetings and before we cook,” Rollins said.
“The people of St. Mary’s have been very generous,” added Diana Harshbarger, parish life coordinator. “We have received donations from individuals outside of the parish who just want to help with the ministry.”
Since January, after receiving the blessing of the pastor, Father Salvador Marquez-Munoz, the idea took off and donations of food, equipment and money have continued to make the project possible. During Lent, families donated 40 canned goods to HOPE’s Kitchen. The Knights of Columbus council also donated funds to buy cooking equipment and serving carts as well as setting up and taking down tables each Friday.
“This is the Year of Faith in our Church,” Rollins said. “I felt we should share our gifts with those in need, God’s special people.”
