Faith Mission in Wichita Falls is planning a major renovation on their kitchen. The kitchen will be closed for two weeks at the beginning of August. Approximately 75,000 meals are served each year and the kitchen has not been upgraded for 30 years.

Steve Sparks, CEO of Faith Mission, is hoping these changes will lead to a more consistent and efficient cooking process.

“The project is for replacing the equipment and flooring in the kitchen area,” Sparks said. “The equipment that is currently in there is probably original to the building. When it breaks down, we have a hard time finding parts for it. It is time.”

Three months ago, Faith Mission began working on the $30,000 project by painting the dining room walls and replacing some of the chairs. Changes to the kitchen include new ovens, griddle cook tops, and a new tile floor.

Vicky Payne, Chief Development Officer of Faith Mission, believes the kitchen is essential to the shelter.

“The kitchen is so crucial to everyday operations,” Payne said. “People actually depend on it for survival. They come here to eat because, otherwise, they would have nothing. They would go hungry.”

Payne said volunteers need to be prepared for the two week period the kitchen is closed.

“The first week in August, we are going to close our kitchen down,” Payne said. “Our volunteers can choose to prepare the food off site, bring it and serve it, or they can come here and prepare sack lunches.”

James Crisp, Kitchen Manager of Faith Mission, said that is not the only need.

“One of our biggest needs in preparation for this project is plastic forks, spoons, knives, paper plates and cups,” Crisp said. “That is because our dish room is going to be shut down.”

Crisp said the upgrades are not just for safety reasons. They are also for those who live off their meals.

“We have several clients that come in,” Crisp said. “One has been coming in this week and every meal: breakfast, lunch and dinner. They said thank you for saving me again. Those are the types of clients that you just love to help. They are very thankful and grateful for this facility and what it provides for them.”

Payne said the project will be paid for with donations. The center is around $7,000 short. You can donate online at their website, in person, or by mail. Faith Mission is also planning on re-tiling the dining room floor.

Meals are open to anyone in the public. Breakfast is served at 6am, lunch at 12:30pm and dinner at 8pm.

– Newschannel 6