The Isabella Community Soup Kitchen fund has been established to help alleviate hunger in Isabella County. The Isabella Community Soup Kitchen began as a class project in 1990 by Central Michigan University student, Gary Taylor. When Gary witnessed a fellow international student eating a catsup sandwich, the student explained to Gary that the country sponsoring his stay in the United States only provided enough money for books, materials, room and board, but not much money for food.
Gary attempted to help the student but found no existing soup kitchen in the area. He decided to tackle the project of creating one. The Wesley Foundation, located on the Central Michigan University campus, initially provided its tiny kitchen and cafeteria to feed the hungry people of Isabella County. As word got out, more people attended, and three years later Gary had to find a larger facility. The Trinity United Methodist Church, located in downtown Mt. Pleasant, offered its basement with a larger kitchen to host the Soup Kitchen for almost a decade. Once again, the number of people outweighed the room available. A final site was found next to the Millpond Park on the West side of Mt. Pleasant to construct a new building as the permanent home of the Soup Kitchen. With the help of Soup Kitchen board members, its Fundraising Committee, and Clarence Tuma, former owner of Embers Restaurant of Mt. Pleasant, enough money was raised to start the project.
The new Soup Kitchen opened its doors in December 2002, thanks to the great responses and pledges from community businesses, churches and clubs. In fall 2003, a generous donation was made from the estate of the former head cook, one of the original volunteers, and several board members. This donation helped pay off the Soup Kitchen’s building mortgage. The endowed Fund continues to aid in relief hunger of Isabella County.
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