From the Archives #44: Martha’s Kitchen
These photos and the accompanying caption were originally posted to our Facebook page (link to external site) on January 23, 2024.
On this day 40 years ago, Martha's Kitchen opened its doors on the first floor of the St. Albans House on Lake Street to Franklin County residents in need of a hot meal, with Madonna Vernal acting as the Kitchen's first coordinator. Their mission: to try and meet the basic needs of food and companionship to those who need it. While the kitchen had a slow start in part due to the stigma and fear of going to a soup kitchen, by 1985 they had served over 6,000 meals. Last year, they served over 45,000 meals.