It Began In Lowell, Massachusetts
St. Pauls Soup Kitchen
In 1995, inspired by the Gospel of Matthew, the late Rose Bronk, and her husband Walter, along with the late Jane Watkins, started St. Paul’s Soup Kitchen at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, in Lowell. They began serving dinner one night a week, however, it wasn’t long before it increased to two nights a week. With support from the Lowell Food Bank, and the dedicated efforts of St. Paul’s Kitchen, the mission to fight hunger was set in motion. With the support of the Interfaith Council of Lowell, kitchen grew to bear more responsibilities of the community. Other churches joined in, helping with meal preparation and serving. As a result, services expanded to three days a week, with twelve churches actively participating. All with a common goal to address food insecurity while fostering a sense of belonging and support for all.
Lowell Transitions
In 2005, the parish of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church unfortunately closed. The Soup Kitchen was relocated to its current location inside the Eliot Church in Lowell. Service was expanded to 5 days a week to assist the City Manager of Lowell during the city’s rise in homelessness. Rose put out the call to help the city’s efforts through the Transitional Living Center. Currently, 22 organizations, including many local churches and businesses, actively help serve meals to our guests. As a result, we are now serving meals five days a week. Furthermore, the demand for our mission continues to grow, reflecting the ongoing need in our Lowell community.
Rose Bronk Remembrance
Family and friends will always remember Rose by the sense of fashion and style she had for every occasion. Rose always stressed the importance of celebrating the love of family. She frequently hosted get-togethers from Sunday dinners to barbecues, sewing sessions, family camping trips, and girl’s weekends away. She always supported the dreams of everyone around her. Rose was present for every event for instance going to track meets, attending races and even celebrating good report cards when they arrived. Above all, Rose was an angel of generosity on earth. In addition, she became a mother to many at the kitchen. Finally, she was truly a saint among the living, leaving a legacy of compassion and love.
Donations in her memory, may be mailed to “St. Paul’s Soup Kitchen”
P.O. Box 2257, Lowell, MA 01851, or Click Here To Donate Online.
Rose Bronk’s Life Tribute Page: www.morsebaylissfuneralhome.com
