Although hundreds of people utilize this service on a weekly basis, not many know about the Switch point Soup Kitchen and fewer know how it began.

 

Jim Roberts, board member and former Director of the Community Soup Kitchen explains, “The soup kitchen was started because the Catholic Church had remodeled and torn out their kitchen. The need was great to help struggling individuals in the city, so a couple from the Catholic Church began serving sandwiches out of the back of their truck.” When Rev. Catherine Gregg heard what they were doing she offered the kitchen at Grace Episcopal Church to the sandwich makers, Rich and Jess. Grateful for the offer Rich and Jess officially began serving lunches two days a week out of the church kitchen.

“My wife and I were serving as lead volunteers and asked to take over the Soup Kitchen. It was a great responsibility, but we knew we could find more people like ourselves who were committed and concerned about helping their community. We went first to SunRiver and were able to get over 150 volunteers!” said Roberts.

 

“We realized we needed to implement funding. Up to this point, the volunteers were buying all the supplies themselves to cook. Tim Martin, through Dixie Care & Share, helped us get grants from the LDS Bishop’s Storehouse. This was a tremendous relief for our kitchen.”

In addition, the owner of The Egg & I donated 5% of all gross sales for a day which turned out to be $2,000! She then went a step further and put in $500 of her own money to help the soup kitchen go from serving 2 days a week to 3 days a week. 

We knew we needed to be serving meals 5 days a week. David Dangerfield, Switchpoint Board Chairman, helped spearhead a campaign to double the donations and worked to help attract more volunteers in order to have teams serving each day.”

By 2014, the kitchen was able to get 38 volunteer teams assembled to expand to 5 days a week.

As Dixie Care & Share was closing, the soup kitchen needed a non-profit to fall under so they could continue to apply for food grants. Roberts continues, “In 2015, I approached Carol Hollowell with the Friends of Switchpoint non-profit. Carol was wonderful and agreed to have the soup kitchen come under the umbrella of Switchpoint.”

 

The Switchpoint Soup Kitchen serves approximately 35,000 meals a year with the help of Switchpoint’s continued efforts and grant writing to purchase much needed food supplies, however, much more is necessary as the need continues to grow.

 

To learn more about this program and ways you can help support the Switchpoint Soup Kitchen, please visit switchpointcrc.org or contact Linda Stay at 435-628-9310, ext. 203.

CAROL'S INSIGHTS

I t’s always exciting at Switchpoint to find innovative ways to overcome the barriers our clients face.

Including being the winner of the Spring 2019 Social Investors Forum by Community Foundation of Utah being awarded a $100,000, 0% interest loan for Step ping Stones, a 24/7 childcare facility, which we are currently working on securing a building with hopes to be open by the end of 2019.

 

On the horizon we are working to further help those that are struggling with addiction to support them in changing the trajectory of their lives. 

 

One thing is true, as we continue to provide opportunities of growth and learning for those struggling in our community, we are empowering families, we are changing lives, and we are changing the face of poverty for future generations; empowering our community to stand shoulder to shoulder with their neighbor to change the world one family at a time.

I encourage you to share our mission with your friends, family and neighbors. We need volunteers and donors to move the needle on breaking the cycle of poverty.

Thank you from every part of my heart,



Carol Hollowell,

Executive Director

The complex will also feature onsite case management and classes for residents geared toward promoting self-sufficiency. It will sport a playground, a community garden and other amenities residents will be able to take advantage of.

“There are many people who don’t have anybody that can help them in the evenings or on weekends when they have to go to work. Many times they have to forgo better paying jobs because of it," - Switchpoint CFO Sonjia Naron.

 

The center will be open to children of all ages and all families in the community, regardless of whether they currently use Switchpoint’s services. Read full article

 

Here at Switchpoint, we have been working hard to create an environment that allows residents of our emergency shelter and community members the opportunity to come together to learn and grow. What better way than through community classes?

 

Our updated community room is amazing and ready for you and your community learning event! Please check our website at switchpointcrc.org and click on the Classes/Events tab. Once you are there, you can view our upcoming class schedule that is open to the community.

 

We have Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Fathering with Love & Logic, GOGI Life Skills as well as USARA and a FREE beginners Hip Hop class.

 

Be sure to check our calendar often as we are adding new classes frequently.

 

If you have a class idea or would like to learn more about our upcoming schedule, please contact Morgan Barrick 435-628-9310, ext. 103.

 

We invite you to join us for our Vision tours held each Friday at noon or

call Linda - 435-628-9310 ext 203 to schedule a time for your group.

If you would like a paper copy of this newsletter, please request that by emailing [email protected] or call 435-628-9301 ext. 201