Early Thanksgiving at St. Augustine Soup Kitchen

PERU | Gathering family and friends to give thanks starts the winter holiday season. In St. Augustine's Parish Hall kitchen, a team of women got started early. They roasted turkeys, mashed big pots of potatoes and squash, made stuffing from scratch, and dished cranberry sauce to serve those in the community who don't have a place to go. St. Augustine's Wednesday Soup Kitchen served 354 full Thanksgiving dinners Nov. 19 with a variety of pies for dessert. Arriving just as they pulled hot roasted turkeys from the oven, The Sun found the former school cafeteria kitchen filled with busy cooks dovetailing dishes due next in the oven. Lots of laughter measured their work. "We're preparing for 310," Ryan said, gently raising an eyebrow that morning. "We may get more." Since October, St. Augustine's Soup Kitchen in Peru has been serving between 300 and 320 meals each week. "The number has increased the last couple months," Jean Ryan said. "We were serving 230 to 240 people in September." Community stepped up to keep pace. "Each and every one of these people are wonderful," Ryan said of the nearly 15 women helping in the kitchen, dining room and sink. "They came forward when they knew we needed help. The clients who come are so appreciative," Ryan said. "We enjoy this." St. Augustine's Soup Kitchen serves takeout dinners at no cost from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, though they won't prepare a meal the day before Thanksgiving. They are not allowed to accept donations at the kitchen or during meal provision. But anyone who would like to support their efforts can send funds to Soup Kitchen, c/o St. Alexander's Church, 1 Church Street, Morrisonville, NY 12962 Parishes from St. Augustine, St. Alexander and St. James staff the soup kitchen along with others from community who just want to help out.

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Early Thanksgiving at St. Augustine Soup Kitchen

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