Bemidji Soup Kitchen

Volunteering at your local soup kitchen is an experience you’ll never forget

By Taylor Klinke

Word Count: 722

As you’re driving to work, you see a man standing on the side of the road holding a sign that says “Will work for food.” You see some cars stopping and handing the man their spare change, so then you have a decision to make: Stop and hand the man a few quarters, or keep on driving by and pretend you didn’t notice him.

We have all seen this at some point in our lives. Whether it is in Bemidji or a huge city, such as, Chicago or New York City. Homeless or less fortunate people are everywhere in the world, and they need our help.

According to Wilder Research – who conducted a statewide survey in 2009 – there are 9,654 homeless adults, youth, and children living in Minnesota. That number was a 25 percent increase over the 2006 study, so that number has likely increased in the past year.

Soup kitchens began to appear in America in 1929 when the economy headed toward the Great Depression. At that time soup kitchens were found in every large city in America; however, the numbers have greatly decreased throughout the past several decades.

The Bemidji soup kitchen dates back approximately 20 years. It’s still up and running thanks to several devoted volunteers, including Gloria Joy, who has been working with the kitchen for 15 years. “I like working with the volunteers and talking to the folks who come to eat,” said Gloria Joy, “I think the only thing that I dislike is scrubbing floors.”

Originally there were only 25-30 people being served each week. But with the help of people like Gloria - currently, about 450 servings are given each week, and volunteers each night include BSU students, BTC students, high school students, and probably anyone you can think of who lives in the area. But the help is needed with the high number of people who comes in to enjoy the food – which can vary from 40-200 people.

The kitchen operates each Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 5:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. However, volunteers at 2:00 P.M. Gloria Joy and a few others are the first to show up - they wrap silverware in napkins while they sit around a table and enjoy a cup of coffee. Meanwhile, Merrylynn Wenaas is in the kitchen getting all the food and utensils laid out. 

When more volunteers arrive – they set up tables and chairs, place tablecloths, set out salt and peppershakers, and if it’s a special holiday, each table is also decorated. “We want our guests to feel welcome,” said Gloria.

As BSU and Bemidji High School students show up – they work in the kitchen buttering bread, making salad, and helping with the main course. It’s a very organized ordeal – as Gloria and Merrylynn help everyone with what they should be doing. When the food is ready, the group gathers in a huddle, puts their hands in the middle and yells “soup kitchen” before serving the guests.

When it’s serving time the volunteers and guests say a short prayer together before the food is dished out. Then each volunteer is in charge of something different – whether it is distributing the chicken, scooping up the mashed potatoes, or handing out the dessert. As each person goes through the line, a smile is exchanged and maybe a short conversation. After everyone is through, the volunteers can eat if they choose to.

As the room quiets down -- volunteers get a couple buckets of warm water and wipe down each table and sweep the floor – as others clean the dishes and the rest of the kitchen. Before they know it, another night is complete.

The food is purchased from the North Country Food Bank in Crookston, along with donations from Luekens and the Farmers Market. “We also get meat, bakery products, and grocery from Wal-Mart,” said Merrylynn Wenaas, a long-time cook at the kitchen.

The Bemidji soup kitchen is held at Mt. Zion Church (414 South Lincoln Avenue) on Monday and Tuesday, and the United Methodist Church (9th and Beltrami) each Thursday.