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Community effort results in new floor for Feed My Sheep Kitchen

Posted September 13, 2024 2:49 pm

Submitted by Faith Miller

In March, Bethel AME Church and the Rotary Club of Carbondale held a recognition ceremony for the many contributors from the community that helped to install a new kitchen floor at Bethel AME during the fall of 2023. This was for the Benefit of the Feed My Sheep program. Recognized were the Rotary Club of Carbondale, the Lions Club, Absolute Plumbing, Aur Beck of the Community Kitchen, Asbestos Abatement and Quality Sheet Metal. Photo provided

Providing meals to the hungry in Carbondale has gotten a little easier following a major upgrade to an important kitchen.

Earlier this year, a volunteer effort saw the replacement of the flooring in the Bethel AME kitchen, which houses the church's Feed My Sheep Community Kitchen.

The Rotary Club of Carbondale obtained a $3,000 grant, which funded the project.

Jerry Molumby, a Rotary Club member and longtime volunteer at Feed My Sheep through his church, Carbondale Unitarian Fellowship, helped write the grant.

Rotary members Cindy Buys and Jerry Molumby are pictured at the Feed My Sheep kitchen. Photo provided

Molumby worked with Rev. Ronald Chambers to execute the replacement of the kitchen flooring. As part of the grant, Rotarians volunteered their time to assist in cooking and serving on Thursdays.

“The first contact was with Gary Meredith of Carbondale Tile," Molumby said. "He advised that we should determine if there was asbestos that needed to be removed. After testing, it was determined that the bottom layer adhesive had asbestos and needed to be removed. Scott Owens, an asbestos abatement contractor was contacted. He came out to measure, and was so moved by what Feed My Sheep was doing, the estimate came in as materials only, a third of what it would have cost. This was the first contribution to the effort."

Meredith also informed them that he was a member of the Lions Club, which had money available for community service. That club agreed to cover the whole cost of the tile and installation.

During this process, Brett Grasher, owner of Absolute Plumbing, was asked to evaluate the plumbing before work was started on the floor. They also advised on how to deal with a leak in the sink. Finally, they sent a worker out to light the stove after the floor was finished. This work was never billed.

The grease trap cover was rusty and breaking through. A visit to Quality Sheet Metal helped locate a piece of aluminum that would complement the new floor. A discount price was quoted, the new cover was created and not billed.

Rev. Ron Chambers of Bethel AME helps serve meals at the kitchen during the pandemic. At the height of the pandemic, when Feed My Sheep had to stop serving to the public, they started cooking meals for the Carbondale Warming Center. When the pandemic became more manageable, they began serving meals to the community again with help from area churches including Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, First Presbyterian, Grand Avenue Christian, First Christian, the Carbondale Muslim Center and Carbondale Unitarian Fellowship. Photo provided

After the floor was laid, volunteers were informed that the floor needed to stay dry for 10 days, at which time it was to be sealed with wax. Aur Beck, a member of Jackson-Williamson Sunset Rotary Club, stepped up and offered the use of the Community Kitchen to prepare meals. Meals were prepared for the Warming Center, and carry-outs were available to the community. Also, sandwiches were made for the Warming Center for the nighttime meal. There was no charge for the use of the Community Kitchen for that week.

Rotary still had unspent money from the original grant, due to the generosity of so many in the community. The remainder of the grant money was spent on paper products.

• Anyone needing a hot meal can come to lunch at Bethel AME Church, located at 316 E. Jackson St., from noon to 1 p.m. For more information, contact Rev. Ron Chambers at 618-797-5165. Volunteers are needed.

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