Fulton Soup Kitchen sees change in leadership

Lori Collins, new president of the Fulton Soup Kitchen, smiles while placing dessert bowls out on Thursday inside the John C. Harris Community Center in preparation for the 5-6 p.m. dinner of ham and beans.
Lori Collins, new president of the Fulton Soup Kitchen, smiles while placing dessert bowls out on Thursday inside the John C. Harris Community Center in preparation for the 5-6 p.m. dinner of ham and beans.

After more than 15 years as a volunteer and leader, Anne Erbschloe has stepped down as president of the Fulton Soup Kitchen.

"It isn't something I really wanted to do, but I have illness in my family. I have a lot of things I have to take care of, and I can't do both well," Erbschloe said.

Erbschloe has handed the torch off to volunteer Lori Collins, whom Erbschloe gave her full vote of confidence in carrying the soup kitchen forward.

"Lori is smart and capable and she really believes in the Soup Kitchen, and I think she's going to do a good job," Erbschloe said. "I feel like I'm leaving the leadership in good hands."

Collins, who first started volunteering at the Soup Kitchen with her family about a year and a half ago, said she decided to get involved because she feels strongly about helping meet the needs of the community.

"The Soup Kitchen is a vital part of helping people through a rough time," Collins said. "We know what's it's like to be in a rough time."

Collins said the biggest challenge in running the Soup Kitchen is finding, training and coordinating the volunteers that are so vital to making it run.

"We need people who care. This is a very volunteer-driven effort," she said. "My job is coordination - getting everybody together who has a heart for this."

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With dinner served at 5 p.m. the John C. Harris Community Center Monday through Thursday, Collins said there is always a place to put someone who has the time and desire to help, whether it's preparing and serving the meal or cleaning the kitchen and organizing the pantry.

"We will find a way. Just call me up and I'll plug you in," she said.

She said the best part has been meeting everyone involved with the soup kitchen, "whether that's the volunteers, or the clients or the people that donate."

"You really get to know Fulton so well by being part of this," Collins said.

She said the Soup Kitchen always welcomes donations, but noted that meat is a particular need right now.

"We can always use both food and paper goods donations," Collins said, noting those purchases often come directly out of the Soup Kitchen's budget. "We don't have a big budget ... we make stretch."

She and her sister, Liz Skelton - whom Collins said is her main support - said they have been impressed by the level of support the soup kitchen receives from the community. Skelton noted that the larger community they grew up in didn't have anything like the Soup Kitchen to help struggling families.

"For a small town like this, it's amazing," Skelton said.

Collins agreed that "Fulton is remarkable for that."

"This is an exceptional town with an exceptional heart, and I'm excited to be a part of it," she said.

Collins said that Erbschloe "did an amazing job" in building up the Soup Kitchen and left big shoes to fill.

"Everybody in town loves her," Collins said. "I know it takes time to build those relationships, and I'm OK with that. I'm just excited about it and thankful to have such an amazing program to be part of."

Anyone interested in volunteering or donating food, paper goods or cleaning supplies can contact Collins at (573) 220-4349. Monetary donations also can be sent to P.O. Box 951, Fulton, Mo. 65251.