Salvation Army opens new soup kitchen

By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
Sept. 20, 2002
A new "soup kitchen" for the Salvation Army in Meridian was dedicated Thursday at 710 B St. as part of the organization's emergency shelter.
The renovated area was two years in the making, according to Capt. Joe Mur, officer in charge of the local Salvation Army.
Guests, including members of the Salvation Army Advisory Board, had lunch in the new dining area and David White, chairman of the advisory board, presided over a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
A former meeting room was renovated into the new dining area and a kitchen was built adjoining it. Mur said most of the money for the renovation was contributed by The Riley Foundation.
Others who Mur said contributed to the project included: Pat Barber of Barber &Sons; Milton Pettengill of Pettengill Electric; Stan and Rachel Sanders of McDonald's Corp.; and members of the Salvation Army Advisory Board.
The Salvation Army is an agency of United Way of East Mississippi. James Harrison, local campaign-communications director for United Way was one of the guests at the dedication.
Mur said the Salvation Army serves more than 6,000 meals a year, including some senior citizens in the Meals on Wheels program another United Way agency. Before the renovation, Mur said meals had to be served in shifts because the only space available could only seat a few people at a time.
The Salvation Army serves two meals a day for people housed in the emergency shelter breakfast from 6 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. and supper between 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. The emergency shelter can house up to 35 people.