The Soup Kitchen was founded by parishioner Francis Hubbard in the mid 1970’s. What started out as a one-man operation quickly grew to involve more volunteers in order to serve the growing number of guests. After Francis was forced to relinquish management due to failing health, other parishioners stepped forward to keep the operation going. Cooking teams were organized for each day of the month that the kitchen was open and many folks from different parishes all over South Bend became involved. Eventually a team of once-a-week volunteers was established for Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and this model is currently in use.
While it has remained a parish project since its founding, the Soup Kitchen maintains its own funding and governance structure. In 1990, a board of directors was established which supervises the operation. At that time Peter Smith was named and continues to serve in a volunteer capacity as director, overseeing day-to-day operations and facilitating biannual board meetings. The board consists of the director, treasurer, representatives from each team and two at-large members.
We rely on individual and group financial donations, discounted purchases from the Food Bank and in–kind contributions from individuals and area businesses and organizations such as Cultivate and Costco. We also help to support the parish’s St. Vincent de Paul Society chapter and pantry supplies that are delivered to families in need. We have no paid staff.