Rutherford Weekly

Nearly 20 years ago Bobby and Helen Lynch of Gilkey had a desire to help feed the public. As members of St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church, Ridgecrest Street in Rutherfordton the couple started the weekly Jericho Road Soup Kitchen with one can of green beans, luncheon meat and fi ve pounds of potatoes. Five people were fed from the St. Gabriel's volunteers that day. On Wednesday, April 27, more than 160 meals were prepared and served to people passing by the church in vehicles or on foot. The hot meal included fi sh nuggets, oven baked sliced potatoes and mixed vegetables. The meal was cooked on Tuesday night by the Episcopal Priest Toni Belhu and volunteer Donna Murray, a member of St. Francis Episcopal Church. Early Wednesday morning, Bobby and Helen, along with other volunteers Roy Ham, Robert Francis, Joe Whitaker, Bo Turner, Donna Murray and Renee Lynch were in the kitchen heating the food, serving the plates, packing them in grocery bags and taking them outdoors for the drive-by distribution. Renee is the daughter of Bobby and Helen and after a cancer diagnosis fi ve years ago, she had to go on disability. After her recovery and being cancer free, Renee works side by side her mother every week in the soup kitchen. It's defi nitely a mother-daughter blessing. After all plates were served, volunteers took the plates outside where they were given to the public. There are no questions asked and no paperwork to complete. Due to the pandemic the soup kitchen operates outdoors but in the near future, hopefully those who receive a meal will have an opportunity to have their meal indoors. Serving outdoors has worked wonderfully for the soup kitchen during Covid-19 times, volunteers said. The meals are served to passing motorists or those who come by to pick up the food and deliver it to other people who can't drive to the Soup Kitchen. If there are plates not picked up on Wednesday, they are taken to residents of hotels in Spindale. Priest Belhu has been at St. Francis 10 months and the soup kitchen is one of the aspects of the church's servant ministry to other that drew her to Rutherfordton. "I came for the interview and Helen showed me the food ministry," Belhu said. "I saw the ministry and the service to the community and how we could focus on the community in COVID time ...Sometimes we serve 160 people a week," she said. Since Belhu's arrival, St. Gabriel's has received a grant from the WNC Episcopal Diocese to fund a community garden on the church property that will eventually provide fresh vegetables. Donna Murray has been a volunteer about eight years. "I decided to get involved and help feed the people who need food," she said. Continued on page 3. ISSUE NO. 18 • May 5, 2022 ISSUE NO. 18 • May 5, 2022 • • RutherfordWeekly.com • 828-248-1408 RutherfordWeekly.com • 828-248-1408 Our 30 th Year • Over 25,000 Weekly Readers WE ARE NOW OFFERING WE ARE NOW OFFERING QUALITY SERVICE AT AFFORDABLE PRICES QUALITY SERVICE AT AFFORDABLE PRICES Michael Harton, Doug Harton Jr., Owner 187 North Powell Street, Forest City 828-245-0923 ADAS Calibration In House On Vehicles ADAS Calibration In House On Vehicles Equipped With Front-View Cameras Equipped With Front-View Cameras Sm it h T rad i ng Pos t STP 828-289-6699 WE BUY GOLD 131 W Main St., Spindale Beside Barley's $$$CASH ON THE SPOT WE HAVE MONEY FOR YOU BUYING & SELLING ANYTHING OF VALUE, ANTIQUES, JEWELRY, MORE! OVER 30 YEARS OF SERVICE! PAWN SHOP Article and photos by Jean Gordon. From Ðive people to 162 From Ðive people to 162 St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church. Worship services are held at 11am every Sunday. Soup kitchen still going strong after all these years MOTHER'S DAY SUNDAY, MAY 8 MOTHER'S DAY SUNDAY, MAY 8 Joe Whitaker and Bo Turner fi xing plates. Mother and daughter- Helen Lynch and Renee Lynch- relaxing after their soup kitchen work on Wednesday. Helen, Donna and Renee packing plates.

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