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Lorraine's Soup Kitchen prepares for opening

Date: 2/9/2010

Feb. 10, 2010.

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



CHICOPEE -- As Lorraine Houle looked at the new dining area and kitchen at the new home of Lorraine's Soup Kitchen, she said, "It's a long time coming."

Volunteers have been moving items from the food service's previous location on Center Street to its new one at the corner of Meadow and Pendexter Streets in anticipation of a by-invitation-only official grand opening on Feb. 24.

Houle and Carol Pirog, board member and co-chair of the fundraising effort to build the new facility, gave Reminder Publications a tour of the building.

Pirog noted the non-profit has "gone green" thanks to the installation of several new energy saving appliances and the switch from paper and plastic plates and cups to permanent dishware. She said eliminating the purchasing of paper and plastic will add $5,000 to $10,000 back into the budget.

The high ceiling, bright white walls and windows give the new quarters a brightness the former basement location did not have, Pirog said.

Noting the level of volunteerism -- much of the building materials were donated as well as 85 to 90 percent of the labor -- Houle and Pirog said a large gas stove was donated by Lucky Strike Restaurant and a steam table from the kitchen of the former Nativity Church.

The office furniture was donated as well. There are now three lavatories all with "green" hand driers donated by the Excel Corporation of East Longmeadow.

The larger dining area can now accommodate 64 people at one time. The previous one seated 47, Houle said.

Near the door to the basement, there is a loading dock and along the side of the staircase to the basement is conveyer belt system, donated by Callaway Golf, to efficiently move boxes of food into the storage area.

In the basement there is on-site storage for food that before had to be warehoused at another location, Pirog explained. There is also a walk-in freezer nearly the length of the building, something the soup kitchen never had before.

Although the soup kitchen is close to reaching its goal for the construction of the building. Pirog said there will be one more fundraiser called "We're So Close We Can Taste It" at the Munich House restaurant in Chicopee on April 18. Further details will be released later.

There will also be an open house for the public on April 24 at noon, she added.

For more information, go to www.lorrainessoupkitchen.com.