CHICOPEE — Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen and Pantry will be celebrating the 35th anniversary of their first meal served with a free event on Saturday, Oct. 5 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Sarah Jane Park.
Board of Directors President Donna Marratta discussed the upcoming event.
She said, “We just want everyone to come out for our 35th anniversary of the first meal served at Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen and Pantry.”
The event includes bounce houses, games, music, crafts, police and fire vehicles, a Chicopee Police ice cream truck and police k-9 demonstrations.
Marratta said this event is more of a thank you for all the people who have helped over the years to get Lorraine’s to what it is today.
Marratta said, “We are having the 35th anniversary of the first meal served at Lorraine’s so we’re having a big community kind of party and picnic at the park to celebrate so that people who have donated to us, people who maybe come and use our services now, or have in the past, can kind of come out. There will be bonce houses, games and craft for the kids, we’ll have some food.”
Guests are also encouraged to bring lawn chairs and picnic baskets for the celebration.
In a statement from Lorraine’s kitchen, they discussed their journey so far. It has been a part of Chicopee for 42 years and serving meals for 35 of them.
It read, “We’ve come a long way from the days of distributing peanut butter sandwiches and hot soup and we can’t wait to share our journey and successes with you,” Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen and Pantry said in a statement for the event.
Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen and Pantry is a nonprofit that provides pantry food and hot meals to residents.
In 1980, a group of citizens joined together to assist the hungry and disadvantaged in the Chicopee community. The Chicopee Soup Kitchen opened on 35 Center St. with volunteers from the Willimansett Nursing Home serving the kitchen’s first meal, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, to 13 people.
While only operating two nights a week, word soon spread and attendance rose to over 25 people. A food pantry was then established at The Chicopee Soup Kitchen, receiving donations from local retailers, wholesalers, churches, and local agencies.
The Chicopee Soup Kitchen and Pantry was renamed Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen & Pantry to honor Lorraine Houle, the first and only director of the organization.
In 2009 the growing need to assist families in Chicopee led to the relocation to the current facility today at 170 Pendexter Ave., which was donated by Callaway Golf Operations.
In addition to meal and food pantry services, Lorraine’s also offers Christmas meals, pop-up pantries, free monthly health clinics, social services regularly and accepts donations.
