At 12:50 p.m., a lean, light bearded, and modestly dressed man got off his bike in front of Sophia’s Kitchen. He carefully parked the bike, which was obviously too small for him, at the parking rack, and in one swift motion, walked inside. Not long after, he came out holding a small brown bag, hopped on his bike and nimbly rode away.
A small wall clock hanging outside Sophia’s Kitchen said 12:52. A couple with a baby in the woman’s arms walked up to the door. The man opened the door for her, and they walked inside. Minutes later, they walked out. The man held two brown bags, and they languidly walked away.
I had been watching a steady stream of people going through the door of Sophia’s Kitchen for ten minutes and was ready to go in for an interview. As I stepped through the door, the first words I heard were: “What soup would you like? Would you like an apple with that?” Directly in front of me was a stainless steel counter. A young man was nodding to the questions without saying a word. The lady behind the counter then handed him a brown sack lunch. He mumbly said thank you and quickly stepped outside the double doors. After he left, the next person stepped up to the counter. Carefully treading my way across the line of people, I opened another door and walked into a spacious room full of people who were enjoying their lunch. Strangely, there was not much noise there like when you went inside a busy restaurant. Everybody just quietly ate their meal as if they were solely concentrating on the food in front of them.
A nun walked toward me and asked if I needed help. I was then led to the space behind the counter to wait for Ms. Claire Crone, Director of Sophia’s Kitchen. As I stood and tried to be out of everybody’s way, I observed the bustlng of the space behind the counter. The clanging of pots and pans, the sizzling of something cooking, the burbling of hot soup provide a contrast to the more somber mood of the dining area I just passed. Seven to eight volunteers did not notice me as they were rushing and moving about their delegated duties. After standing there for a few minutes, I noticed that the kitchen was brightly lit, full of steam, and filled with a multitude of pans. My stomach started to rumble as I inhaled delicious aromas. In front of the kitchen, on a long stainless steel work table, a volunteer was preparing cookies that were to be served. To my right, three volunteers worked diligently to greet the people at the counter, prepared the sack lunch, and handed the sack lunch off to them.
Not long after, I was greeted by Ms. Crone and was invited to her office, and we began the interview. Before working at Sophia’s Kitchen, Ms. Crone had been a secretary at Sacred Heart Church and worked at the grade school kitchen at Holy Family School. As her children got older, she started looking for a job that was quieter and calmer so in 2010, she decided to come to Sophia’s Kitchen. At first, Ms. Crone said that she was a little nervous but soon fell in love with taking care of the people here. “It breaks my heart to watch people not have anything, so I want to make sure that they have enough.”
Under the direction of Sacred Heart Parish, Catholic Diocese of Peoria, Sophia’s Kitchen services around 400 to 450 people on a daily basis. On some days, 500 to 600 people. The kitchen is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., providing sack lunches for people on their way to work and others who wish to sit down in the seating area. Ms. Crone believes that recently more people are coming due to the economy and the reduction in Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Unfortunately, the zip code where Sophia’s Kitchen is located is one of the poorest in America. Even as much as Sophia’s Kitchen would like to help, they asked people to only come once a day. “50,000 people in this area are food insecure. With a number like that, we couldn’t possibly feed every person. But the lunch we provide is quite generous with 1,500 to 2,000 calories, which is enough to keep you alive.” This means that some people have access to a meal only once a day.
“What would you like to eat today?” is the question with which volunteers always greet those who come for the meal. It is the question many people rarely take notice when sitting down for a meal at a restaurant, but here it has a special meaning. Ms. Crone explained why it is so important, “That question is what we are known for. One person said he has never been asked that question. He started to cry. He said that nobody cared what he wanted. They assumed that he was hungry, he was poor, and he ate whatever was handed to him. But here we care.” This caringness explains why the kitchen menu changes every day. Though the kitchen will aways provide peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, they make soup using produce that has been donated. “It’s going to be a different soup every day, or even a different soup every hour. Sometimes when our cook is going to be late, we start making oatmeal. During the holidays, the kitchen serves a sit down dinner. They put tablecloths on the table, and volunteers help carry meals to the tables. We have table decorations for them. They get treated with dignity.” In addition to serving food, Ms. Crone said that Sophia’s Kitchen is a safe place. “People know that when they are here, there is no nonsense. They are going to be in a safe place. We are all family here.”
Yet, maintaining Sophia’s Kitchen is not an easy feat. Though the kitchen raises about a million dollars a year, it takes 1,500 dollars a week to keep the kitchen running. In addition, the grocery budget is 2,000 dollars a week and the heating bill is 2,000 dollars a month. Despite facing financial challenges, Sophia’s Kitchen is supported by the whole community. “Peoria has responded so beautifully to our cause. Midwest Foodbank gives us food. Eastern Illinois Food Bank, Walmart, Costco are some of our generous donors. Individuals come in and donate things all the time. We had one farmer who raised cattle and one cow was small, and he couldn’t sell it. He donated the cow to us. Hunters would bring in deer, venison. We made chili out of that,” Ms. Crone said.
In addition to the local supermarkets and farmers, the volunteers at Sophia’s Kitchen make everything possible. “The volunteers are just the most wonderful people ever. They come at least four hours a week. They donate their time and talents.” To volunteer at Sophia’s Kitchen, one must be older than 12 years old. Volunteers are assigned duties based on where they feel comfortable. For example, volunteers who enjoy washing dishes are assigned to the dish room. Others who enjoy cooking are placed in the kitchen. However, all volunteers must be allergy trained. “We have a young man who comes. He is allergic to gluten. We tried really really hard to have gluten free meals for him,” Ms. Crone explained. Sophia’s kitchen does receive high school volunteers, especially during summer. “I have one young man who has come since he was in grade school. He came throughout high school. He went to college, but every time he had a break, he came back. He feels this is the place he feels the most peace.” For any individuals wishing to volunteer, Ms. Crone suggested submitting a volunteer application on Sophia’s Kitchen Website.
Kindness and compassion have been the key ingredients in Sophia’s Kitchen since 2010 in this location at 105 Richard Pryer Place. It provides meals for people who find themselves in difficult situations in life. Most of them come to Sophia’s Kitchen on foot or by bus. Some are employed. Some are veterans. Some have a home. Some have no home. During weekends and after hours, Sophia’s Kitchen also provides the Little Free Pantry, where people can have access to food such as nutrition bars, nuts, applesauce, etc. Aware that pets provide people companionship through their difficult times, Sophia’s Kitchen also has a Pet Food Pantry every Thursday afternoon.
At 2:15 p.m., retracing my way past the line of people at the counter and pushing the door out to the parking lot, I felt a cool autumn breeze brushing against my face and heard a faint honking sound of migrating geese. But most prominently, the aroma of warmth and comfort drifted through the door and lingered around the parking lot of Sophia’s Kitchen, carrying the promise of a full stomach with good food. Two people were eating their meal outside on a small circular stand. Some people just arrived and walked toward the door in hope for a good meal they knew the volunteers had prepared with care and compassion. In less than an hour, Sophia’s Kitchen would close its operation for the day. But with the generosity of Peorians who donate food and volunteers who donate their time, the door of Sophia’s Kitchen will be open again tomorrow.
