Soup kitchen provides much more than food
One of the first things that Barbara Furcron, Norm Ridge and Teresa Martinson do when they arrive at St. Thomas Catholic Church Soup Kitchen is warm up the stove. They are cooking for 60 people who will arrive shortly for lunch and dinner. This has been the routine every Tuesday from noon until 6 p.m. for the last nine years.
During the summer months the numbers of patrons swells to 80 people, and Furcron, Ridge and Martinson are always ready. They plan, shop and prepare food.
“We have it down to a science now. We get creative with meals and have a great time doing it,” Furcron said.
In this case the old cliché, “Too many cooks can spoil the broth,” doesn’t apply. Volunteer cooks Delores Lewis, Lorna Lind, Sue Schmidt, Mike Anderson, Bob Runkle, Ted Carneiro, John McHugh, Marian Lazarov, David and Karen Gibbons, Carol Ridge and Howard Martinson are part of the group that always makes sure there is plenty to eat.
Eight years ago Furcron’s husband died, and she was looking for things to do. She had recently returned to St. Thomas, and during one of the services she learned about the soup kitchen.
The person in charge of the soup kitchen had left and Furcron, Ridge and Martinson agreed the soup kitchen needed to continue. They all stepped forward and took over.
The soup kitchen started in 1998 and is at 10th and Indiana. It is generously supported by St. Thomas’ parishioners, Albertsons, Kiwanis and community donations.
Anyone can come to the soup kitchen as Martinson points out.
“Our mission is to feed the hungry and our doors are open to anyone, regardless of religious affiliation.”
The kitchen serves a whole meal – not just soup. Meals consist of meat, salad, bread and dessert. Leftovers are carefully wrapped for patrons to take home, and during the holidays, patrons also receive warm items like gloves, sweaters, hats and socks.
Furcron tells the story of a Boise man who lost his job and moved to Coeur d’Alene to look for work. He needed a place to live until he could get a job. All the local agencies had turned him down, but the group at the soup kitchen was determined to help.
“We all put our heads together to try to people the best we can,” Martinson said.
“Many of the same people come every week and we take a personal interest in each and every one of them,” Furcron said.
“Barbara has a heart of gold and would give you the shirt off her back,” Martinson said. “She extends a helping hand to everybody she meets. She has a spirit of helping and she lives that spirit every day.”
Furcron points out that she lives one block away from the church, which makes it easy for her to reach the food kitchen quickly when needed.
“This has been a great spiritual journey for me,” Furcron said. “I have gained compassion.”