EASLEY — The SHINE kitchen cafeteria was dedicated to founder Judy Burns on Thursday for her years of effort in making the soup kitchen a success.
SHINE, Stopping Hunger in Nearby Easley, was created in 2004 to help struggling families and individuals by providing a hot meal to those in need.
“We want to celebrate everything that Judy started here,” said Kevin Lovell, chairman of the board for SHINE. “What you’re in is a soup kitchen — but it wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for her.”
Lovell said Burns first had a vision for what the kitchen could be when she was involved with the Chamber of Commerce back in the early 2000’s.
“The doors opened and they started serving here July 12, 2011,” Lovell said. “Since then we have served anywhere from 200,000 to a quarter million meals.”
Lovell said around 25 different churches have come together to volunteer for cooking, cleaning — putting in around 3,000 hours of volunteer work.
“All different faiths,” he said. “We have Presbyterians, Baptists — you name it — they all come here to help out.”
In addition to the churches and area businesses, former SHINE recipients have often returned to help out the organization that assisted them in their own time of need, Lovell said.
“I am speechless,” said Burns, tearfully. “This means so much and I just don’t know what to say.”
Burns thanked the many volunteers for their service in helping to make SHINE what it is today.
“None of this could have happened without help … I can’t believe you all did this!”
SHINE is located next to The Dream Center at 111 Hilcrest Drive in Easley. They are open every weekday from 5:30 to 6:30 providing meals to anyone and everyone who shows up — no questions asked.
Anyone interested in volunteering or making a donation to SHINE is asked to visit their website at www.shinesoupkitchen.org.
