For a local soup kitchen one million meals served may be a milestone but it’s no cause for celebration.
The Dew Drop Inn has been serving a mid-day meal every day since it opened its doors in February of 1981. With more than 200 people heading to the Red River Road kitchen every day, it expects to have served one million meals by the end of Sunday.
“It certainly isn’t a celebration it’s a milestone,” president Paul Deighton said as he and volunteers were preparing a meal. “The person who is the one millionth guest isn’t even going to know about it.”
Along with not wanting to celebrate the achievement, Deighton said it would be inappropriate to spend any money that people have donated on any sort of recognition. Instead, he’s happy that the Dew Drop Inn has been able to serve those in need.
“The satisfaction that we’ve reached this point and the determination to move forward to continue what we’re doing,” he said.
And the kitchen is always moving forward as the need continues to grow. When he first started in 2005, Dieghton said the Dew Drop served around 36,000 people. Last year they served 59,000 meals and are on pace to break that number by at least 3,000 this year.
Deighton said the increasing price of food as well as the cost of housing and other living expenses are a few of the reasons that more and more people rely on places like the Dew Drop Inn.
“We’re determined to meet that need,” he said.
They’ll meet that need through community donations and a steady group of volunteers like 16-year-old Florence Southscott. The Churchill High School student said she likes to give back when she can. It’s great being able to see the one millionth meal served and learn about what the Dew Drop Inn does for the community.
“If everyone can get involved and do their part then you can make a big difference in people’s lives,” she said. “It’s really awesome.”
