More people relying on soup kitchen

The CNMI Salvation Army’s soup kitchen has been seeing a seven-fold increase in the number of clients it has served in the last few weeks.

From an initial number of just 28 clients, the soup kitchen called Guma Yo’ Ase’ or House of Mercy is now helping out 192 clients and 136 families who are in need of food assistance-indicating the worsening economic conditions on the islands.

With the surge in the number of clients, CNMI Salvation Army ministry leader Wayne Gillespie said they are now trying to decide whether to keep the soup kitchen open for longer hours.

“We are keenly aware of the increasing needs of the community and it bothers me a lot,” Gillespie told Saipan Tribune yesterday. “But we’re struggling with this issue because opening the soup kitchen longer would mean double overhead for us so we can’t be open for as many hours as we need to be.”

Gillespie said they are limited by their food supply at the soup kitchen, which survives through donations, grants, and their income from the rummage sale area.

He noted that they are looking at other options and have been doing their own cost-cutting measures to lower their expenses. These include turning off power when not in use.

Gillespie disclosed that the soup kitchen, located on the second floor of the building across from Hopwood Jr. High School in Chalan Piao, has been moved to the ground floor next to the rummage sale area.

“We are happy with our move. We have more room now for the soup kitchen,” he added.

While the soup kitchen is generously supported by businesses like Dickerson & Quinn, Foremost, and Triple J Super Fresh Market, Gillespie said their biggest need at the moment is cash donations to defray their overhead costs.

“But we certainly welcome donations of canned meat and vegetables,” he added.

As word spread about the available food assistance for those in need, Gillespie said that they are being made aware of some families who have homebound family members due to disabilities.

“We will go to them very soon for a visit and evaluation and we’ll see what we can do to help them,” he said.

Gillespie is calling on the public to support the soup kitchen by their monetary or in-kind donations or by donating clean and serviceable items for the rummage sale area.

The soup kitchen, Gillespie said, prides itself in their clients as many of them have become volunteers themselves.

“They feel like they need to give back to the community and we feel proud and humbled by their mindset,” he added.

To donate or for more information, contact Gillespie at 483-0885 or gaprens@yahoo.com or visit the CNMI Salvation Army Facebook page.