BATH

The Bath Soup Kitchen has new co-managers and is serving hungry people three times a week from its home at the First Baptist Church on Washington Street.

Now that Becki Parkhurst and Helen Koehling are in place as volunteer managers, the soup kitchen just needs a cook.

For now, Parkhurst and Koehling are meeting those needs.

The kitchen is open 11 a.m. to noon on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and serves hot coffee or cocoa at 9 a.m.

“We’re getting 35 to 45 people a day, plus we’re averaging about 28 takeouts,” Koehling said Monday as the two prepared that day’s meal. “It’s 11 to noon, but if people are coming in at 11:45 or noon, we’re not going to turn them away.”

In early September, the Bath Area Food Bank was seeking a new manager for its soup kitchen after it closed its doors. The Bath Area Food Bank serves as the umbrella organization for the soup kitchen, the food pantry at the Neighborhood Faith Community, United Church of Christ, and the clothing exchange, which closed a year ago.

The soup kitchen managed to reopen a little later, but still needed a manager. Even while it was closed, food for those in need remained available at the food pantry, but now — with winter at hand — people can sit down to a hot midday meal.

Parkhurst and Koehling have been managing the soup kitchen for two weeks. The Food Bank Board of Directors approved them by unanimous decision on Dec. 10, Koehling said.

“We desperately need cooks now that Becki’s in a managerial position,” Koehling said.

Parkhurst plans the meals, and does most of the cooking. She has many years of experience as a cook at assistedliving facilities.

Koehling does dishes, makes schedules and handles the business end of the soup kitchen. She has served as a certified nurse’s assistant and helped her father run a cafeteria.

She also knows what this means to people in need.

“There’s no words,” she said. “I was a client here. I am very humbled. I like to go around and sit with the clients and talk to them.”

Both women live in Bath, not far from the Baptist church. They try their best to provide substantial, healthy meals.

“Becki is very adamant that everybody has protein,” Koehling said. “We do vegetarian meals, and meat meals. We cater to diabetics. We’re trying our hardest and we want suggestions.”

The soup kitchen needs a cook willing to work the three days from 8 a.m. to noon. Those interested can contact Koehling at 350-0725 or flowerpower_ 4me@yahoo.com, or Parkhurst at 522-6797 or thunderredbird@gmail.com.

lgrard@timesrecord.com