Is The Kitchen Inc. really a kitchen?
No. Though The Kitchen Inc. started as a soup kitchen at the St. Agnes grade-school cafeteria, it has since then ventured away from the primary focus of hunger and branched into three primary programs regarding:
The housing program was established to help the families, single women, and youth in the Springfield area who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The Kitchen Inc. offers a variety of housing through options such as scattered site apartments and the emergency shelter known as The Missouri Hotel.
With the youth program, the goal is to assist those between the ages of 12 and 21 who have become homeless or disconnected from their families. These services include a few different programs including a youth drop-in center that offers simple services like clothing, food, laundry, and other hygiene services as well as Rare Breed.
The Kitchen’s free medical clinic is considered by many Kitchen employees such as CEO Rorie Orgeron and coordinator of health services Misty Jordan to be one of the most important services offered. This clinic helps those who have no health insurance and who earn no more than 133 percent above the poverty rate. The clinic offers a variety of care options from vision and dental to normal checkups and prescriptions.
Is that where the name comes from?
The original soup kitchen created by founder Sister Lorraine Biebel was not named The Kitchen, but when she discovered the need for her services to be slightly different, she still wanted the name to evoke a feeling of warmth. She wanted the name to be inviting like a trip to Grandma’s house, a place where people could get to know each other.
Are The Kitchen and Victory Mission part of the same organization?
The Kitchen Inc.’s programs are a separate entity from Springfield’s Victory Mission. While Victory Mission focuses on ending hunger in the area, The Kitchen works toward creating a safe place for at-risk persons.
Out of the three programs, where are the most volunteers needed?
The medical clinic. Most important, the clinic needs primary-care doctors. In 2013, The Kitchen’s clinic saw more than 1,300 individuals with more than 6,000 patient visits and it was able to supply more than 32,000 prescriptions.
Patient visits may even include many specialized services such as:
- gastrology
- nephrology
- neurology
- occupational therapy
- gynecology
“We need long-term volunteers who will help on a regular basis,” Orgeron says.
Jordan urges medical persons to volunteer.
“It is a very rewarding experience,” she said. “Our patients are very thankful for the care we are providing. And the staff is really great to work with — people are here because they care.”
Do the people who come to The Kitchen Inc. actually need help?
When asked if the people of Springfield could know one special thing about The Kitchen, Inc., Orgeron responded:
“I wish people in Springfield understood who we serve. The general opinion is that the people we help are just lazy, but there are a lot of people that really need the services. There are people with families or disabilities … It’s just life’s circumstances — it can happen to anyone.”
Orgeron and Jordan both mentioned how people of every education level and work ethic are helped, including some who even have Ph.D.s or are currently in school.
How can I volunteer?
Have a special program or service you would like to help with? Contact director of human resources and volunteer coordinator Theresa Oglesby at toglesby@thekitcheninc.org.
Not sure where you would be most helpful? Complete and submit The Kitchen’s volunteer application.
How can I get help from the services provided by The Kitchen Inc.?
To find out more information about services offered by The Kitchen Inc., call the office directly at (417) 837-1500 or visit a One Door office who can help find you the care or services you might need.
