Florida Kitchen Volunteers Feed and Outfit Customers for Life

The presence of the Federal Association remains strong at the St. Francis Soup Kitchen in Jacksonville, Fla. The kitchen has served generations of volunteers; many of the knights and dames who now work there through the Order first came to the kitchen years ago with their children who were fulfilling service hours during their school days. 

Every customer at the soup kitchen gets a seat at the table and a plated or bag lunch with a good hot meal. The knights and dames form the constant voluntary framework that produces the meals and operates the kitchen, while the volunteers who serve are from various youth groups, individuals, and even the US Navy on occasion. Over the past year, the knights and dames have provided approximately 1,500 hours of service to the poor and hungry in our town through this work.  Each year they respond generously to the Christmas Wish List, which stocks the clothes closet, and also provide larger items to the facility on an as-needed basis. 

Recently, a young couple came into the soup kitchen with a baby in a broken-down stroller. They had just been evacuated from a local shelter during the hurricane. They were given helpful information about shelters and were told to come back the following week. The couple came back and were presented with a new stroller; a gift from the volunteers. The father got a job at a local Waffle House but needed a white shirt, black pants and black shoes to start. Those items were provided to him and he’s now at work. 

The kitchen provides a helping hand to many people like this as well as a short respite for many of our customers who live on the streets. The food service is simply the means by which we attract them. What we really want to leave them with is the love Christ has for them as reflected in the care they receive from the volunteers.