Sonshine Soup Kitchen Fitting Up New Home

DERRY, NH — After 27 years and more than 300,000 meals cooked and served in the basement kitchen and dining room provided by Derry’s First Baptist Church, the Sonshine Soup Kitchen hopes to move into its own building in late winter. Thanks to grants, donations and work provided by local businesses, according to a press statement, the dream will soon be reality.

The hope of a commercial kitchen has the staff and volunteers abuzz. No one is more enthusiastic about the move than SSK’s Operations Director, Christine Fudala. She imagines the aroma of fresh-baked bread wafting toward the dining room as the guests enter.

SSK Board Chairwoman Linda German noted, ”Many items are still needed for the kitchen. Volunteers are currently working with kitchen tools designed for home use that are too small or inefficient for preparing 60 to 75 meals at a time. Volunteers tell us how difficult it is to open 24 cans with a handheld can opener or stir with a spoon that does not reach the bottom of the pot!”

The public can be part of equipping the new kitchen and dining room. When gathering with family and friends this holiday season, consider “passing the hat” to help purchase tables and chairs. Or, stop by the Sonshine Soup Kitchen office and select an ornament from our “Helping Us Grow” tree. Simply donate the amount listed on the ornament to contribute to a commercial grade kitchen tool - no shopping necessary!

Checks can be sent to the Sonshine Soup Kitchen, 4 Crystal Avenue, Unit 4, Derry, NH 03038.

Note “new kitchen” on the check for donations to be used for tools that are most needed. Donations can also be made through PayPal: sonshinesoupkitchen.org/donations/paypal-donations.

Submitted by Marilyn Olbricht.