BRATTLEBORO — St. Brigid's Kitchen and Pantry, 38 Walnut St., is in the midst of a fundraising effort to come up with $250,000 to ensure that it will continue to operate for many years to come.
St. Michael's Catholic Church, which runs the food shelf and kitchen, seeks to reconstruct the building and make it handicapped accessible with an updated kitchen, dining hall, handicapped restrooms, and a practical working space for the many volunteers.
For 35 years, St. Brigid's Kitchen and Pantry has been working, along with other local food kitchens, such as Loaves and Fishes at Centre Congregational Church, to ensure that those in need have enough food to eat.
Through the generosity and support of many individuals, area businesses, and churches and hundreds of volunteers over the years, St. Brigid's Kitchen and Pantry has been able to serve a hot, nutritious meal to hungry people four days a week, according to a news release.
The kitchen serves an average of 1,800 meals each month to families, working folks, homeless men and women, children, and many retired seniors. The pantry program reaches 70 families each month, including 85 children and seniors.
The campaign recently received a boost with a Thomas Thompson Trust Challenge Grant of $10,000.