It should come as not surprise that the food pantries and soup kitchens in local communities are feeling the strain of the economical challenges. Brenda Braden, founder of Kitchen of Hope says, “Pantry’s and soup kitchens are popping up everywhere because there is a need.”

The Kitchen of Hope, located at Bethel Methodist Church, is open on Saturdays from 11am to 1pm. Braden says they now feed as many as 110 which is up from the 60 that was the average six months ago.

“Meals at the Kitchen of Hope are home cooked,” Braden said. ” I like to make a balanced meal each week. Sometimes it’s spaghetti and meat balls or pork roast with mashed potatoes and green beans. We had a cook out last week.”