SHAMOKIN - One night a week for the past year, folks in need have received a hot meal from the warm hearts of the organizers and volunteers of God's Chuck Wagon in downtown Shamokin. Tuesday marked the one year anniversary of the mobile soup kitchen started by Pastor Jim Bowers and his wife, Janet, of the Outreach of Ministry of the Water and Spirit in Locust Gap.
"The day we decided to start it, Jim was in the hospital with blood clots in his lungs," Janet said. "I promised him I would do it and I served soup to twenty people that night."
Since then, the menu has expanded. On Tuesday, aside from the usual soup and bread, they were also serving hot dogs, ham sandwiches, bananas, chips, drinks and freshbaked goods made by volunteer Lillian Reader.
The soup kitchen has seen a large influx of people stopping by for a bite to eat over the past year. The couple estimate that they serve approximately 125 people a week in Shamokin and 70 to 80 when they are in Mount Carmel Monday evenings.
"We have moved from using a Chevy Malibu to a van and now, by Thanksgiving, we should have our bus up and running," Pastor Bowers said. They recently purchased a 72-passenger bus and are going to convert it to a true mobile soup kitchen, in part to keep out of the cold in the winter months. The new ride will also allow them to expand to more communities including Trevorton, Kulpmont and Tharptown. (See accompanying photo caption for more on the bus.)
Thanksgiving dinner will be offered during the week of Nov. 19 in both Mount Carmel and Shamokin on the regularly scheduled nights.
The soup kitchen relies solely on donations, but Jim and Janet purchase most of the meat.
"Donations are tough and, sad to say, most of them come from out-of-town," Pastor Bowers said but also noted that Weis Markets and Pepsi have been good to them. They are also partnered with the Shepherd's Table food pantry of Coal Township.
"We love doing this rather than having it in a building. There are no walls here and people feel free and comfortable to come here rather than a church they might not agree with," Pastor Bowers said. They also plan to hand out blankets, scarves, hats and gloves during the winter months.
Tammi Fiorey and her daughter Abbi, 12, of Shamokin, have been helping out when God's Chuck Wagon is in Shamokin on Tuesdays for the past month.
"I just like helping out the community," Abbi said, who was missing soccer practice to volunteer.
Her mother said Abbi is the one that "reminds me to come down every week."
To make a donation or for more information, call Pastor Jim Bowers at 492-3902.