By Sam Wildow
TROY — The St. Patrick Soup Kitchen will be serving Christmas Day dinner again this year, continuing to bring meals to people’s addresses like they did last year.
“We’re going to serve all of Miami County on Christmas Day,” St. Patrick Soup Kitchen Director Dick Steineman said. “This is the 26th year we’ve been doing it.”
Steineman said the meals will be delivered between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, and they are expecting to serve 1,200 meals. Steineman said they found the process of delivering the meals to people’s homes and addresses to be easier than other previous methods.
“When we opened the soup kitchen in 1996, we decided that we would do Christmas Day dinner,” Steineman said.
Steineman commended those who come to help them with their annual tradition of serving Christmas Day dinner.
“The volunteers are so helpful,” Steineman said. “There’s so much community support in doing this.”
Debra Grant, volunteer coordinator and cook, said the menu for their Christmas Day dinner is baked ham and potatoes, apple sauce, seasoned green beans, a dinner roll, and pie. The meal will come in different containers, including one that is microwaveable.
Grant said volunteers cook and prepare the food the week prior to Christmas Day, adding that it is a family tradition for many families to spend time preparing the food.
“No matter what, nobody ever goes hungry,” Grant said.
Those who would like to place an order for a free Christmas Dinner are asked to call the soup kitchen by Dec. 22 if possible. Callers are asked to leave a message with their name, phone number if available, the number of meals requested, and the address they would like the meals delivered to on Christmas Day. The phone number for the St. Patrick Soup Kitchen is 937-335-7939.
Anyone else who would like to volunteer or provide other support to the St. Patrick Soup Kitchen can contact the soup kitchen at 937-335-7939.
The kitchen serves a free meal every weekday between 5-6 p.m. You can arrive anytime in that hour. Everyone is welcome. There are no requirements to eat here, and no one will ask you to register or ask for your information.
The St. Patrick Soup Kitchen is located at 25 N. Mulberry St. in Troy inside the Hobart Community Kitchen.
