A building that houses a non-profit organization that provides meals for the needy and an after school reading program for students is under urgent need. The building which houses the Spirit of Faith Soup Kitchen and the After School Reading Program for students in the area located at 632 North Main Street is in dire need of a new roof. According to a letter from the Spirit of Faith Program Director Polly Pulley the roof has severe leaks due to missing shingles and holes in the roof that may endanger the programs from staying open.
“We’ve been working on it for a number of years now,” Pulley said, “and we seem like we’ve gotten nowhere. Alan Bradish and Dennis Doyle have been helping me out. We plan to raise $50,000 to cover the costs of putting on a new roof.”
Pulley said that the money doesn’t all have to be gathered at once but just enough is needed so work can begin: “The person who said that would put the roof on for us, once we have enough money to secure their work, will actually be able to allow them to do the work. They actually said that they would come in and stop the leaks for the winter if the weather gets too bad to put it on. Then, they would put the new roof on this Spring.”
The Kitchen currently has United Way funds but cannot use that money towards purchasing a new roof due to legal stipulations with grants.
Pulley says there are multiple ways to help with the roof project: “We do have a donation account set up at CNB Bank that is our Roof Replacement Fund. If anybody could come up with some good fundraisers, come by and talk to me. I am open. I’m a hard worker and I’m not afraid to do any work. Even if somebody could come up with ideas to raise funds, that would be a big help.”
Pulley says local businesses can help if they can’t donate anything: “I know some businesses around town who are unable to give a nice donation. Even if they just put out a collection bucket for us, we accept pocket change, too. Every little bit helps.”
All donations to the Soup Kitchen’s Roof Project is tax deductible. For more information about the roof project contact Pulley at 217-371-6363, Dennis Doyle at 217-602-1769, or Alan Bradish at 217-719-9358.