Hunger is typically a problem associated with bigger cities, so many students may not be aware that there are families in Charleston who do not have enough food to eat.

However, the Soup Stop Mission is dedicated to providing needy families with meals and ending hunger in Charleston, and is trying to get students involved with their efforts.

“I had no idea there was such a thing in Charleston,” said Meghan Ghiari, an Eastern student who serves on the board of directors. “I associated soup kitchens with bigger towns. People don’t realize there are homeless people in Charleston.”

Soup Stop president Nick Kousma feels that in the year and a half they have been working, Soup Stop has made a significant difference.

“It has made a positive impact in terms of providing needy families with food,” he said.

Soup Stop is a year-round soup kitchen that offers members of the Charleston community a hot meal five days a week. They offer their services Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

However, volunteer coordinator Barbara Fanello fears that Soup Stop might have problems continuing if more people do not volunteer.

“Volunteers are very important to help us keep going,” she said. “It’s through the winter that we’re very low on food handlers.”

Soup Stop is not for profit and is run entirely by volunteers.

“(Soup Stop has) given people an opportunity to show compassion to those in need,” Kousma said.

Fanello says that, while she used to see numerous students volunteer, that number is tapering off. She urges students who are interested in helping people who are less fortunate to get involved in any way they can.

“If they can only work one day a month, that would be great. If they want to do community service (for their classes), I’d be happy to give them a letter for their professor,” she said.

Soup Stop is primarily looking for food handlers that are trained and certified by the state to supervise in food handling.

Ghiari thinks that students will find volunteering for Soup Stop rewarding.

“It’s been a great experience,” she said. “I’ve learned a lot.”

Soup Stop began in the spring of 2001 when Susan Richtenburg and several members of the First Presbyterian Church of Charleston got together and decided to help needy families.

“I think we’ve been very successful,” Kousma said. “We started with no location or resources, and now we’re providing meals five days a week.”

Members of Soup Stop see many families in Charleston who are unemployed and on welfare, and therefore cannot afford meals. Fanello thinks that part of the problem may be due to the number of people who were left jobless when Trailmobile left Charleston.

“Occasionally we’ve had some who are living out of their cars,” she said. “There’s a lot of families that are unemployed. Most of them are on public aid. When school is out, there’s no place for (the children) to eat.”

Soup Stop is located in the basement of the First Presbyterian Church of Charleston on 311 Seventh St. Students who are interested in volunteering for Soup Stop can contact Fanello at 348-6006.