Volunteers from Job Corps and Massachusetts give kitchen a facelift
CARIBOU, Maine — The Bread of Life Kitchen will be opening up in August 2016 and volunteers from Loring Job Corps and the St. Catherine of Alexandria Youth Mission have been donating their time and labor in an effort to improve the kitchen’s appearance and efficiency.
All improvements will be provided absolutely no cost to the 62 Collins Street kitchen, with Job Corps installing two handicapped-accessible bathrooms and the missionaries from Westford, Massachusetts adding sheetrock and a fresh coat of paint to the back wall and ceiling.
“They bring everything with them,” said Bread of Life Board Member Jean Miesburger. “And they’re housed and fed at the college in Presque Isle.”
The kitchen did have to provide toilets and sinks for Job Corps, but were able to fund those purchases with grant money.
“Caribou Rotary showed up early in our fundraiser with $2,000,” said Board member Ken Murchison, “and in the same week the Stephen (and Tabitha) King Foundation granted us $8,000. We did most of our major fundraising in one week.”
Miesburger added that, in addition to donating over 1,000 food and cleaning items, Sitel will be presenting a $500 check to the kitchen.
“The rest of our fundraising is really grass roots,” said Murchison, “like donations from Thursdays on Sweden, and people coming in and donating checks.”
“One man came in, had supper, and put five dollars in the donation jar,” said Miesburger. “He said his aunt used to come and that it was some of what she couldn’t give. The meal is free, they don’t have to give anything, but all these donations add up.”
Looking ahead, Bread of Life is trying to expand and spread the word.
“Part of what we’ve been doing is getting out and meeting people,” said Murchison. “We’ve been hidden back here for almost 17 years. Now that we’ve made a presence during Thursdays on Sweden and have been visiting with other groups, more people know who we are. Ideally, what that means is that we’ll be serving more meals.”
Both Murchison and Miesburger are pleased with the volunteers for donating their time to the nonprofit.
“I think it’s wonderful,” said Miesburger. “To think that these kids are doing this and taking up their summer is great.”
James Hayes, a Job Corps carpentry instructor with the Homebuilders Institute, oversaw the Loring-based work crew as they made renovations to the bathroom area.
“They’ve been a great crew,” Hayes said, “and they’re still in training so we’re getting some things laid out, but will hopefully get a good start on it today.”
Though Hayes has only been with Loring Job Corps for a year, he has been involved in a variety of community projects.
“It’s great to help people out and give them a place to have a warm meal,” said Hayes. “We try to keep community projects going as much as we can. It’s an interesting endeavor for sure.”
While Hayes’ work provides assistance to surrounding communities, he adds that it is also a great benefit to the students at Job Corps.
Along with charitable labor from Job Corps and the youth mission, John Lyons of Lee Merchant Signs worked with his staff to provide a new sign for the kitchen, and installed it on July 21. The Caribou sign company also provided a free banner to the kitchen for use during summer Thursdays on Sweden events.
