Jul 8, 2015 2 min read

While the community has been very generous in its support of Washington City Mission following last month’s fire, mission officials remain in desperate need of groups or individuals to help provide roughly 300 meals a day.

Maria Stockman, City Mission’s event and marketing manager, said the mission is looking for businesses, church groups or individuals to provide one or more meals a day. About 75 hot meals are needed daily for breakfast and 100 meals are needed daily for lunch and dinner.

“We would welcome anything,” Stockman said.

The mission’s kitchen was destroyed June 9 following a fire, and the building, at 84 W. Wheeling St., was deemed uninhabitable for six to eight months. Stockman said “all facts seem to lead to a faulty refrigerator,” as the cause, but an official determination has not been made. A monetary amount for damages has not been reached, Stockman said.

No one was injured in the fire and the 66 men staying at the facility June 9 were safely evacuated by the night houseman, Keith Groves, before firefighters arrived.

Washington High School provided its facilities to the mission to house the male residents, but Stockman said the men must be out by Aug. 1 to prepare the building for the upcoming school year. An empty lot between the Washington Hidden Treasures thrift store, Washington Street, and the Goodwill thrift store has been secured and Stockman said trailers will be brought in to house the men.

Donna Bussey, the mission’s community and church relations specialist, said the organization still lacks storage and food preparation space, which is why outside meals are so important.

“Be creative,” Bussey said. “We’ve had sloppy joes, and chicken and ham dinners. Whatever (the community) can think of, we’ll use.”

Those interested in donating meals are asked to call Bussey at 724-222-8530, extension 221, to schedule a date and time.