St. Joseph food kitchen prepares for annual fundraiser

By Kirsten Stokes

Open 365 days a year, serving lunch each day, the Open Door Food Kitchen is preparing for its annual fundraising event at the end of this month.

From 5 to 7 p.m. on June 27, the community is welcome to a brisket dinner at the Knights of Columbus No. 5067. Tickets are $25 a person or $200 for a table of 8.

Director Katie Burris said in the last month, the food kitchen has served on average 173 patrons a day.

“(The fundraiser is) important because it’s our only way of collecting funds. We get no outside money. It’s strictly donations and grants. We are going on our 40th year and we have to continue this service to the community,” Burris said.

Patron Glen Cooper shared his experiences with the Open Door Food Kitchen at a time when he needed it most.

“I had a period where I was homeless, and this gave me a good meal every day. I knew that at 11 every day, I was going to be able to eat something good,” Cooper said.

Burris said the atmosphere she wants to set at Open Door is one that welcomes everyone because they are a family.

Reservations are preferred and can be made by going to www.theopendoor foodkitchen.org/banquet or calling Toni at (816) 261-2262.