Belleville’s King’s House Staff Serves Up Soup for Local Food Pantry
Photos and Information Supplied by Sarah Biermann, King’s House Staff
kingsretreatcenter.org
King’s House staff: left to right: Richard Dahm (Business Manager), Tammy Schoenbach (Housekeeping), Tina Turner (Housekeeping), Kelly Smith (Kitchen Staff), Sarah Biermann (Hospitality & Communications Coordinator), Carolyn Hofstetter (Housekeeping Supervisor), Justin Shellenberg (Maintenance/Grounds Keeper).
On March 24, Staff members from the King’s House Retreat and Renewal Center in Belleville spent part of their Holy Thursday supporting a fund-raiser for a local food pantry.
The food pantry at St. Augustine Parish in Belleville provides much-needed food for 40 to 50 families per week and the fund raiser provides an important source of revenue for this critical outreach. The St. Augustine “Empty Bowl Soup Luncheon” provides a basic meal of soup, bread, and a cool drink of water which reminds us that too many people would be happy to just have access to a simple bowl of soup everyday. However, this event provides more than just a “basic” bowl of soup. Some 20 local restaurants and pubs donate the different delicious soups enjoyed by the diners and three of those choices came from Oblate ministries.
The “Empty Bowl Luncheon” had a great turnout
The Restaurant at the Shrine Our Lady of the Snows and Mind’s Eye donated soups, and a full contingent from King’s House brought and served Chef Chris Schumacher’s famous white chicken chile!
A crowd estimated at over 250 people enjoyed the food and fellowship, with many staying for the silent auction that followed. Hosts for the event were St. Augustine’s pastor, Fr. Bill McGhee, the pastor of neighboring St. Henry’s Parish, Fr. Ken York, and the pastor of Westminster Presbyterian, Meg Overstreet. The luncheon raised more than $2,500 for the food pantry.
In addition to soup, staffers Tina Turner, Justin Shellenberg, and Carolyn Hofstetter ladled out information about upcoming events at King’s House