Siouxland Soup Kitchen looking for new ways to help pay the bills

By KARA KOCZUR, Globe staff reporter
July 10, 2008

It wasn't long ago that a generous donor rescued the Siouxland Community Soup Kitchen by buying and renovating a building to be its new home when its former building was sold.

But now, almost a year after the move, while the challenge of finding a new building has been met, the soup kitchen is facing a new challenge, and that's keeping the bills paid.

"We don't have any problem getting donations of food, we don't have to worry about paying rent and we don't have to worry about taxes, but we have two employees and we have utilities to pay, and we're not keeping up with those bills," said Father Mike Erpelding, pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Sioux City and a soup kitchen board member.

And it's happening at a time when Siouxlanders are using the soup kitchen more than ever. As food and gas prices have risen over the past year, the number of people using the kitchen has doubled, said Gordy Lebowich, president of the soup kitchen and its board.

In the past year, 28,000 people have been served, Lebowich said. Each week about 700 people are fed at the kitchen, which offers a hot evening meal Monday through Saturday.

The challenge of keeping up with the bills was noticed about a year ago, Father Erpelding said, one of the reasons being that a couple of large donors moved out of the area. It was also about the time that the soup kitchen moved to its new location at 717 W. 7th St.

"I think some people possibly may think since we had the building donated to us that we don't need as much money anymore," he added.

Since that's not the case, it has led Father Erpelding and Lebowich to try and come up with ways to raise the needed money.

One of the ways being discussed is to approach donors who may be interested in being generous, Father Erpelding said. Another option is to solicit people to buy coupons that cover one week's worth of utilities or a week of paying the employees' salaries. Fifty-two coupons would be made for each, which is enough for one year.

With such a large number of people using the soup kitchen, it is essential that the organization stays in the Siouxland area, Lebowich said.

"Where else would these people go? There are children there," Lebowich said. "How do you tell a child no more milk? . . . In the Bible it doesn't say it's a sin to be hungry and in the laws of the United States there are no crimes committed when a man and a wife and a child are hungry."

Because the organization serves not only Christians, but Jews and Muslims as well, Father Erpelding said it's important for all faith communities to be generous.

"I could speak as a Christian that Jesus called us to specifically feed the hungry and clothe the naked and that's what it means to be a Christian quite simply," he said.

In fact, the soup kitchen was started in the early 80s at St. Joseph's by the late Father Harold Cooper.

Lebowich said that donations of all kinds are welcome.

"We're open to canned goods, we do cash - anything they want to send us," he said.

What happens if the money can't be found to keep the soup kitchen open?

It's not an option.

"We will find the funds," Father Erpelding said. "I'm confident that the people will come forward."

Donations can be sent to: The Soup Kitchen, 717 W. 7th St., Sioux City, IA, 51103.