St. Timothy’s primed to feed the masses

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December 18, 2014 - 12:00 AM

St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church will dedicate its new dining hall and expanded kitchen area Saturday evening. The event is by invitation, and will be followed by a public grand opening on Jan. 21.
For 10 years the church has served community meals once a month. Long ago facilities became fist-tight with 160 to 180 people being fed at each monthly session.
The kitchen was so compact that it was difficult to stir a vat of soup and remove hot rolls from the oven at the same time.
At mid-summer, knowing her health was failing, the Rev. Jan Chubb orchestrated efforts to solve space problems. The Reverend passed away Sept. 25. The tightly knit membership of 34 enthusiastically took on the building project and mounted a capital campaign to raise $135,000.
Worth noting is that St. Timothy’s is the second smallest Episcopal church in the eastern Kansas diocese.
The result was a 1,000-square-foot addition to the southwest corner of the church.
Sue O’Connor, one of the principles of the church as well as the meals program, likes to crow that all materials for the addition and the expanded kitchen were purchased locally, with exception of a large commercial grade sink and hanging lights in the dining room. The lights found their way to Iola from a church salvage company in Iowa.
The first public event for the new quarters will be when members of Allen Community College’s  basketball teams are fed on Dec. 29.
“It will be the second year we’ve fed the basketball teams,” O’Connor said. “The college cafeteria is closed over the (holiday) break and we want the kids to have a good, home-cooked meal.”
St. Timothy’s had a similar meal — the fourth year straight — for the college cross country team before fall semester classes took up and cafeteria meals were available.
While monthly meals have become a standard, the church canceled this fall’s Thanksgiving feast due to the construction.
“We’ll do the Thanksgiving meal again next year,” Donna Sifers said.
The meals come primarily from food prepared and donated by members, with the church bearing remaining costs.
“The thing is, we don’t buy food with any money donated by people who come to eat,” O’Connor said. “Although, we do encourage people to contribute.”
But, if someone doesn’t have the financial wherewithal, their plates are just as full as those who do.
Fact is, she said, “we want to feed people who are hungry.”
Proceeds from donations — it isn’t unusual for a $100 bill to show up in the basket — are used to help disadvantaged and poor folks in the Iola area. Some goes to organizations, such as Hope Unlimited, but individuals benefit, too.
The women, including Barbara Wille, said typical purchases include gas cards, or sometimes things such as false teeth or hearing aids.
At one meal a child and adult came and mentioned they had only the clothes on their backs. The next day they were treated to new clothing.
Food also is kept on hand to help families whose money and food run out before the next pay day.
St. Timothy’s and Sonic Equipment share responsibility for a weekend backpack food program. The church makes sure kids attending Jefferson and McKinley schools have nutritious meals over the weekend; Sonic Equipment does the same for McKinley and Iola Middle schools.

SUCCESS COMES from members “believing in each other and what we’re trying to do to help others,” O’Connor said.
“We’re like a family,” Sifers chimed in.
“We don’t have any committees,” O’Connor added. “Whenever something needs to be done, like the additional to the church or the monthly meals, we all just pitch in and get it done.
“I think us being such a small church helps out,” rather than hinders its mission of benevolence. “You make a couple of telephone calls and everything gets done.”
“There never are any arguments,” Sifers professed. “We’re really all very close.”
Again, the women proclaimed, it all is testimony to Chubb and her ability of drawing the congregation together to live their faith and be helpful to those in need.
“She gave us the courage to do all we’ve done,” O’Connor said. “Everything we’ve needed seems to have fallen into our laps and I’m sure Jan (Chubb) is in Heaven watching over us.”
When Chubb understood she wouldn’t be with the church much longer, she made arrangements for a replacement.
The Rev. David Kent comes from Lawrence twice a month and on alternating Sundays a priest comes from one of 10 area Episcopal churches to lead services..

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