At Thursday's Fulton Kiwanis meeting, members heard about the new soup kitchen in Fulton, Open Table.
Sue Beaty, Open Table president, spoke to Kiwanians about the organization.
Beaty said Fulton's previous soup kitchen closed in the spring of 2021, and that she felt it was necessary to open a new one.
She reached out to Aaron White to assist in working towards opening Open Table. In the summer of 2022, they compiled a list of 30 community members who served at the previous soup kitchen.
From those candidates, a nine member board was finalized that represents six local churches.
Open Table held its first food service on March 2.
"We've already served six meals in the month of March, and they've been really tasty," Beaty said.
She thanked the local community for all the support Open Table has received. She also discussed the process for how people can volunteer for Open Table.
All volunteers must have their food handler's certification from the Callaway County Health Department.
White, Open Table administrator, also spoke to Kiwanians. He discussed food insecurity in Callaway County. According to a handout, 1,150 children in Callaway County in 2020 were experiencing food insecurity. A total of 4,630 people were reported to have experienced food insecurity in 2020.
White said the annual food budget shortfall is $2.2 million.
"Open Table is seeking to return to our community something ... that we know is a crucial element of addressing food insecurity," White said.
He said it is important that everyone who attends Open Table feels welcome and safe at meal services.
"We welcome every person to come. The only thing that we care about is if that person needs to be fed... Anything else we might use as a demographic, none of those things matter to us except we are able to care for somebody who needs a good meal that day," White said.
Meal service is conducted at the John C. Harris Community Center (350 Sycamore St.) on Monday and Thursday from 5-6 p.m.
To learn more about Open Table, visit the group's Facebook page.
Fulton Kiwanis is running an "Egg My Yard" fundraiser, where Kiwanians will hide pre-filled eggs in a yard for an egg hunt. Kiwanis members will only be hiding the eggs in houses within Fulton city limits. on either the Friday or Saturday evening prior to Easter.
For houses outside of city limits, the eggs can be picked up at American Midwest Insurance Group (302 Market St.) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
It is $20 for a bundle of 25 eggs.
To sign up for the event, visit cognitoforms.com/FultonKiwanis/FultonKiwanisEggMyYard.