Soup kitchen receives $20,000 donation

A $20,000 donation is helping a soup kitchen continue its mission to feed people physically and spiritually.

The Barnwell Community Soup Kitchen received a $20,000 donation from the Crane Fund for Widows and Children. This fund is administered by the Crane Company, which has a plant in Williston.

“Grateful doesn’t seem to be big enough. They have supported us for several years, but we’ve never received a donation this size,” said Soup Kitchen Coordinator Sherrie Still of how the maximum donation was $5,000 when they first started receiving donations from Crane.

This donation will help the soup kitchen continue to serve their clients five days a week. They currently serve 75 to 125 people every week. In addition to providing a nutritious meal, the soup kitchen has pastors speak.

“We feed them spiritually as well as physically,” Still said.

Crane not only donates money to help the soup kitchen, but several employees donate their time by volunteering once a month at the soup kitchen.

“Having money is great because the ministry needs money to function; however, without people to come in and serve, the ministry wouldn’t exist,” said Still. “Crane not only met our needs in a monetary way but actually became a physical partner.”

Still said they always need more volunteers to partner with them, even for just one day per month. Churches, businesses, and individuals are welcome. Volunteering at the soup kitchen is a great way for students to earn community service hours.

“Without people like that we would not exist,” she said.

The Barnwell Community Soup Kitchen is open Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. It is located in the activity center of Barnwell First Baptist Church (161 Allen Street, Barnwell).

For more information on the soup kitchen, including how to donate or volunteer, call (803) 671-0022 or email barnwellcsk@gmail.com.