Our Lady of the Lake Soup Kitchen workers from left to right, Joanne, Jerry volunteering at the soup kitchen at Columbian Hall. Photo by Phaedra Veronique
LAKE HAVASU CITY – The ministries available at Our Lady of the Lake Church are full of a variety of ways for the community and members to assist people with life challenges. For example, the congregation’s Prison Ministry provides mass to inmates twice a month and their Christ in our Neighborhood outreach spreads their message in people’s homes every third Saturday of the month.
Currently, the faith is in need of more volunteers at their soup kitchen. Due to the absence of winter visitors, the summer months can be a challenge in obtaining weekly volunteers. You
do not need to be a member of the church to participate. The volunteer opportunities are available to anyone interested in giving back to the community. Requirements for soup kitchen volunteers are easy.
Each worker must apply for a food handlers card and a safe environment certificate which is free and can be received by visiting safe-env.com.
The kitchen is open not just for the homeless, but for anyone who is hungry. Nourishment is provided by St. Mary’s Food Bank and extra food is placed on tables at the venue, and it’s free to the public.
For questions and additional information, reach out to Soup Kitchen Supervisor Linda Nitschke by email at initschke@ourladyofthelakelhc.org, or by calling 928-855-2685. The Our Lady of the Lake community soup kitchen is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 5:30 p.m., and Saturdays the church hands out takeout lunches from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Knights of Columbus (Columbian Hall).
For Nitschke, volunteering at their kitchen is all about having the heart, rather than the time. “Each week, my heart is warmed and stays full knowing that I’m able to provide this service,”Nitschke said. Visit ourladyofthelakeromancatholic.org to learn more about the variety of ministries they have on hand.
Phaedra Veronique
