As word spreads about the new location of St. Leo’s Soup Kitchen, Michigan Area members are helping serve those beyond the soup kitchen’s dining room.

The soup kitchen moved to its current location, the Police Athletic League building in southwest Detroit, this spring. With the move came a shift in focus, explained Michigan Area Hospitaller Kathleen Mastrangelo, DM.

“Since we moved, we have fewer in-house diners, as word is still getting out about the new location,” she said. “However, as we continue to grow the number of guests who dine in, we’re also taking meals to two other locations to serve those in need: Horizon Halfway House, which is just across the parking lot from the soup kitchen building, and an outdoor refrigerator that is part of the Detroit Community Fridge network.” 

The Michigan Malta volunteers prepare 80 meals from scratch, working under the direction of chef Dominic French, St. Leo’s kitchen manager. Organized by Hospitaller Mastrangelo, teams of Michigan Area volunteers work at the soup kitchen on the second and fourth Fridays of each month (and on fifth Fridays when they occur).

In addition to food preparation, volunteers also chat with guests, clear plates, and clean up afterwards. Over the past 12 months, the Michigan Area has served about 4,000 meals to soup kitchen guests.

Volunteers included Dale Chiara, KM; Stephanie Le, DM; Auxiliary Grace Salzeider; Mark Thut, Member in Formation, and his wife Mary Thut.

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