Cook Charles Harper is proud to whip up both lunch and dinner at the Catholic Charities’ North End Soup Kitchen.

"It gives you a warm heart to see people come in and enjoy the meals,” says Harper. “It’s beautiful."

The kitchen started providing dinner from 4:00 pm until 5:00 pm this week for the first time in its 70-year history.  The change comes in response to the changing face of poverty.

"For the past two years now we've experienced an increase in clients that are working, are working poor, are on government assistance and just not making it," says North End Soup Kitchen Director Jon Manse.

It is all possible thanks to a $160,000 donation from the C.S. Mott Foundation, and it is needed. On the first day of dinner, hundreds of working poor, and families with children lined up for a warm meal.

The soup kitchen relies on volunteers everyday.  With the expansion, more are needed.  It is looking for businesses or organizations to sponsor a day, providing a donation and volunteers at the Stewart Avenue kitchen. 

If you’d like to help, call Jon Manse at 810-785-6911.