Food plentiful at Soup Kitchen’s Thanksgiving feast

The City's Farmers Market and the West Pine Street Soup Kitchen banded together to provide a Thanksgiving feast for those who are less fortunate during the holiday season this week.

The soup kitchen, at 140 West Pine St., has served Long Beach for almost 28 years and offers residents a hot lunch five times a week and a bag with sandwiches and fruit for a second meal to more than 40 residents.

Nearly 40 volunteers help put the meals together every weekday. The Thanksgiving feast, however, is different, with various foods, including turkey, stuffing, potatoes, greens, pies, and more, being served. Volunteers, however, cook these meals at home, since the soup kitchen doesn't have an oven, and food is reheated with several microwaves at the site.  

Bernadette Martin, who runs the Farmers Market in Kennedy Plaza for three seasons out of the year, was able to offer the soup kitchen fresh vegetables for this year's holiday dinner, including kale, arugala and collard greens, and also provided bread, water, and herbs.

Robert Blau, a volunteer at the kitchen, said that local restaurants, as well as Waldbaums, have continued to be generous over time in providing food. He added, "The City gives us this building, a former restaurant, rent free, and the Lions Club of Long Beach has offered an electric oven," he said. "All we need is City approval and we really can be cooking here at this facility."

Check out next week's edition of the Herald for an expanded story. Those who wish to donate to the soup kitchen can call 678-4668.