MAKE 2021 BETTER: San Angelo soup kitchen in dire need of volunteers
John Tufts
SAN ANGELO — Six days out of the week, those in need of a free lunch can arrive at the Wesley Trinity Daily Bread Soup Kitchen, 301 W. 18th St., where volunteers have dished out tens of thousands of meals per year since 1984.
But the program is facing a shortage of help.
"We've had a lot of volunteers that have passed on, or they retired, or because of COVID-19 they feel like they don't need to volunteer anymore," said Volunteer Director Ola McCorkle. "God has given us the strength to go on since '84; I really believe it's in His hands."
In spite of the virus, McCorkle said the soup kitchen operates Monday-Saturday from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. and often feeds between 125-225 or more people a day.
Program Director Pam Burke said during an earlier interview with the Standard-Times that if it weren't for the soup kitchen, some people in San Angelo wouldn't be eating much at all.
"You're providing something they need, and they really need to be fed," Burke said. "There are some people for whom this will be their main meal for the day, and we're providing it to them."
McCorkle said a group that arrived the second Monday of every month recently announced it would no longer be able to participate, which has put a strain on its other volunteers who are still cooking, stocking shelves, and handing out food to those who need it.
"A lot of our volunteers, and I won't say they're all elderly, but they've been working with the soup kitchens for quite a few years," McCorkle said. "If we could get some relief to those that have been working so long ... It's an enjoyable and rewarding job to volunteer, but people do get tired."
Before the pandemic, those being served could sit down to a nourishing meal of homemade soup or stew. Volunteers in the past also provided a main dish served with meat and a vegetable, bread, dessert, drinks, and other sides.
The efforts to prevent the spread of the virus have changed things.
Lunches are currently served in a "grab-and-go fashion" with no one being allowed to stay and eat inside the building, officials stated.
"New volunteers would not come into contact with our meal recipients," McCorkle said. "I know that some people are afraid of that because of COVID-19, so we do try to protect them. We stress wearing masks and gloves."
The pandemic has also impacted Daily Bread in other ways. While the number of people volunteering has decreased, the number of people who arrive hungry at the soup kitchen appears to have gone up.
"We're seeing more people, yes, because I think people have lost their jobs — I feel that's why there's an increase," McCorkle said.
There is data to back up McCorkle. Unemployment in the area has risen since the pandemic first appeared in San Angelo.
In March 2020, San Angelo had an unemployment rate estimated at 4.4% (1,960 people), according to the Texas Workforce Commission. In April and May, the area saw unemployment levels that climbed into the double digits — 11% with between 4,300 to around 4,500 people out of work.
By November 2020, San Angelo's unemployment rate was listed at 7.3% (3,246 people).
As the Texas economy continues to recover slowly, local charities and organizations are doing what they can to provide help to those who need it the most.
A volunteer nurse is on-site at the soup kitchen to help screen meal recipients for health issues.
In April 2012, the Daily Bread partnered with West Texas Counseling & Guidance to provide free therapy, including individual, marital, and mental health counseling, as well as counseling for substance abuse issues. A bilingual therapist is available to assist Spanish-speaking clients.
While McCorkle hopes to find enough volunteers to help on other days of the week, she said the organization has to recruit a new group of volunteers for the second Monday of every month in 2021.
"We need about 5-6 people who would be responsible for the meal," McCorkle said. "We would provide the ingredients and things that you would need."
The second Monday of every month in 2021 are as follows:
- Jan. 11
- Feb. 8
- Mar. 8
- Apr. 12
- May 10
- Jun. 14
- Jul. 12
- Aug. 9
- Sept. 13
- Oct. 11
- Nov. 8
- Dec. 13
How to volunteer at the soup kitchen
What: Daily Bread, a soup and lunch program
Where: Wesley Trinity United Methodist Church, 301 W. 18th St.
When: Arrive at 9 a.m. Lunch is served 11 a.m. – 12:50 p.m.
How: Call 325-653-9028 and ask for Ola McCorkle at Wesley Trinity United Church
Food donated to the Wesley Trinity Daily Bread Soup Kitchen is provided by individuals, businesses and churches, according to the organization's official website. H-E-B donates the kitchen's bread, and some food is purchased from the Concho Valley Regional Food Bank.
More:Reasons to be proud of San Angelo, your list of lists on why this place matters
John Tufts covers enterprise and investigative topics in West Texas. Send him a news tip at JTufts@Gannett.com.