'If a kid is hungry, you should feed them.' Kiwanis Caring Kitchen to open on West 16th

This article is part of a recurring series that updates the status of properties of interest in the Erie area. Have a suggestion? Email jmartin@timesnews.com.

If not for the eye-popping mural painted on the outside — depicting an abundance of colorful food, including fruit and frozen treats — the new building on the property of Community Shelter Services might be just another shed.

The Kiwanis Club of Erie hopes that the Kiwanis Caring Kitchen, at 655 W. 16th St., can be much more than that after it begins serving food on July 24.

Diane Lazette, executive director of Community Shelter Services, said she and Cathy Szymanski, secretary of the Kiwanis Club of Erie, had been talking for years about the need to feed people, especially children, in one of Erie's poorest ZIP codes.

But they said anecdotal reports of malnourished children in the neighborhood left them resolved to do something.

In search of a solution

That led to the creation of the Kiwanis Caring Kitchen, which is set to begin serving light meals and snacks to area children or anyone else that's hungry.

There will be no forms to fill out, no income levels to meet.

"We are not going to ask questions," Szymanski said. "We truly believe if a kid is hungry they should be fed."

Demand will vary

Despite years of planning, there is an element of improvisation to the effort. And the shed, which was delivered about six weeks ago, figures to be more concession stand than kitchen.

There are no set menus and Lazette acknowledges that the food, which will be assembled at the commercial kitchen next door at Community Shelter Services, will vary from one day to the next.

"Maybe it's just a muffin and juice for breakfast," she said. "Maybe we can give them a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a bottle of water for lunch. We want to make sure they are getting some type of nutrition."

Takeout containers can be used to dish up hot meals, but most of the food will be served in grab-and-go fashion.

While some of the start-up costs have been funded by the Times Old Newsies, an Erie-based organization that collects donations to feed the hungry, organizers are hoping ongoing donations will help fill their needs.

That includes the need for food and time.

Lazette said the Kiwanis Caring Kitchen could always welcome a couple dozen extra homemade cookies, or someone who has an hour to spare passing out food.

There's no dining room, but a prospective Eagle Scout is planning to make some picnic tables for outside, Szymanski said.

None of those involved just yet know how many tables might be needed or how many meals might be served each day.

"We don't know if we will have five people or 105," Lazette said. "A flag will fly when its open and it will be open as long as we have food.

To donate or for more information, email Cathy@szy.com.

Contact Jim Martin at jmartin@timesnews.com.