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Helping Hea
Story by:
Ian Ritter
Kansan staff writer
Photos by:
Sara Brooks
Kansan staff photographer
Some are homeless. Some are hungry They all find a warm meal and friend atmosphere at the Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitche
he homeless, people in financial need anyone for that matter can eat free in Lawrence.
"Sometimes we eat better here than at a restaurant," said Shawn Bedient, Lawrence sophomore, referring to the
free lunches served at the First Christian Church, 1000 Kentucky St.
Bedient, a 26-year-old who eats at the church because of financial problems, was working on a paper while waiting for the buffet-style lunch to be served to him and nearly 100 others last Tuesday.
lost Tuesday. "I used to be homeless, and this place kept me from dying," said Bedient, who was homeless between the ages of 21 and 23.
"A lot of people are afraid to come down here because of the way they think we all are," he said.
But Bedient said he didn't mind admitting that he could use a little help from others every now and then.
"I just humble myself and say, 'I'm hungry,'" he said.
The First Christian Church provides the kitchen where the Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen (LINK) cooks and serves free meals for the community.
LINK serves anyone who comes to the First Christian Church between 1:30 and 2:00 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. The Salvation Army serves free lunches on the other days. LINK was started on Valentine's Day 11 years ago by concerned citizens and church volunteers.
One of those concerned citizens was present at last Tuesday's lunch.
Ed Dutton, a former social welfare professor at the University of Kansas and founding member of LINK, doesn't visit the meals as much as he used to because of failing eyesight. Although he is almost legally blind, Dutton stopped to shake numerous hands and knew many people by name.
Dutton, who once worked with famous activist Cesar Chavez in California fighting for farmer rights, said the point of the kitchen wasn't to push welfare programs or religion, but to give people a meal and a place to socialize.
"I had been chair of a study committee on hunger in Douglas County," Dutton said. "Our conclusion was: no, we didn't find any starvation: yes. there was much hunger."
LINK is the outcome of this study, which was conducted 12 years ago by talking to people in the community, Dutton said.
"We started out our first meal, we had six people and we said, 'Uh oh. What does this mean?'" Dutton said.
The number of people who come for free lunches has not only increased — it has exploded.
"A meal is probably worth four or five dollars, and we have served close to 200,000 times," Dutton said.
After each meal, the number of trays are counted for attendance.
Dutton also said that more than 30 area churches and synagogues were donating food and funds to the kitchen. Dillons grocery stores and individuals also have contributed.
The LINK volunteers differ from day to day. Last Tuesday, volunteers were sixth-grade students from the Raintree Montessori School, 4545 W. Clinton Park
"It's fun to help people, because much as others," said Brooke M volunteer. "It's a good feeling."
McLane-Higginson said that tho good for society, the government those who are financially unfortu grams like NASA.
"I think they should give more have as much," she said. "Once pe start putting million-dollar things"
The crowd at First Christian Chaple one sees walking the streets or obviously homeless, some are you
"I used to be here this place kept dying
— one eating
ters" passing through town, and their appearance. Gray hair is m locks and dyed hair. Many have the
Those who came for the meal la the basement about noon. As some of Van Halen's Jump in the back o each other and waited for the food
Among those waiting to be serve Columbia, Mo., who had been in L preferred to remain anonymous be
"it's one of my main staples," he ting too hungry."
He said he learned of the free lung to a table of people he referre and squatters" in town.
"I think it's really good that they ple couldn't eat without it," he said here are alcoholics and spend their food."
The man from Columbia was pla with a friend and didn't know Lawrence. He said he didn't have a couldn't get a job or any identif
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Community Outreach
The Hill November 5,1996