Soup kitchen, partners provide meals, gifts for people in need
-
TRISHA MURPHY/Palatka Daily News – Mrs. Claus hands out gifts to Bread of Life neighbors Friday during an event to provide local residents in need with vital items during the holiday season.
“When what to my wondering eyes did appear,” Santa and Mrs. Claus and an elf dressed to the hilt, bringing up the rear.
It was lunchtime Friday at the Bread of Life when the esteemed guests showed up to help spread a bounty of Christmas cheer for the 165 adults and 29 children who were at the soup kitchen for a free meal and were treated to gifts from a variety of organizations and church groups.
Bread of Life staff, with donated food items from Longhorn’s Steakhouse, provided the meal of steak chili, carrot, raisin and pineapple salad, and hotdogs. Walmart contributed, too, by providing sliced bread and cupcakes for the meal.
“Just to watch it in action today was a beautiful thing,” Bread of Life board member Sherry Mills said. “It is something our community needs and I think I shed tears three or four times today.”
Mills said it was absolutely gorgeous to see the community coming together to help those in need and make sure no one is left out this holiday season.
“One guy who came up to me was very emotional and said, ‘You have no idea what you’ve done for me,’” she said.
But Mills said she does know.
“We have all had struggles in our life, too, and that’s why we do what we do,” she said.
Donated gift items included blanket wraps from Walmart along with miscellaneous children’s items and candy.
Christmas cards were created and donated by students at Peniel Academy to be placed in the gift bags. Trinity Baptist Church children and Boy Scout Troop 235 collected and donated children’s gifts, while Lamey’s Peaceful Sanctuary in Palatka donated plastic boxes filled with toiletries and blankets.
Other donations came from First Presbyterian Church Presbyterian Ladies, who donated handmade scarves, hats and shirts for men and women. Terri Sunday donated kids gifts, 11-22 Church donated gift boxes, and the Woman’s Club of Palatka and other local organizations also donated items.
“There were so many contributions; it is hard to name them all,” said Leota Wilkinson, Bread of Life board president. “There were people truly moved today by the gifts they received. There were a couple of adults who got teary-eyed. It was amazing.”
Wilkinson felt inspired by being a part of the events at the Bread of Life on Friday.
“It’s what Christmas is all about and what we should be doing to help our community,” she said.
Bread of Life, 320 N. Fifth St. in Palatka, serves lunch from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Donations are always accepted and can be made at the facility between 8–10:30 a.m. Monetary donations can be mailed to Bread of Life, P.O. Box 1183, Palatka, FL 32177.
Theresa Odom, who has been the kitchen manager at Bread of Life since August 2019, has lived in Putnam County her whole life. She expressed her gratitude to the community for always supporting the organization’s projects.
“It’s amazing every time we start a project of any size how the outpour comes from our community,” she said. “It comes from everywhere.”
Odom admits the help Bread of Life gives its neighbors, most of whom walk to the soup kitchen, through the community’s support is amazing, whether it comes from a business or individual.
“What we did today and saw today with our community coming together so strongly is what the Christmas spirit is all about,” she said.
