HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

Iowa Community Kitchen turns 5!

ARLAN -- The Iowa Community Kitchen in Harlan is going into its fifth year anniversary.
    The Iowa community kitchen serves a freewill donation meal every Tuesday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church.
    “We’re there for the people who need a well balanced meal and we’re also there for socialization and fellowship, we bring the community together,” Vicki Bever said.
    The kitchen was founded in Harlan by Bever. She originally started one in Manilla, but because of the small size of the community, there was a low attendance. The opportunity arose and she was able to start one in Harlan.
    At first, she thought it was going to be like Manilla and have low attendance. The first night, they had 37 people show up but after that the number started growing.
    “It’s been really good. From our first year opening, to our fourth year we’ve served 36,916 meals,” Bever said.
    Bever hopes in the future the kitchen stays open. They are completely funded by grants, donations and the support of the community. All of the volunteers do it because they want to do it.
    “There are so many people who just come down once a week to visit. Some of them can’t get out of their homes so somebody will bring them down,” Bever said. “It’s the only time a lot of these people can see their friends or neighbors.”
    Bever also hopes the attendance and volunteer work increases.
 

 
 

 

Harlan Newspapers

1114 7th Street
P.O. Box 721
Harlan, IA 51537-0721

(800) 909-6397
news2@harlanonline.com

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