Soup kitchen celebrates 30 years

Boynton Beach nonprofit has served more than 3 million meals over the years

The Soup Kitchen of Boynton Beach recently celebrated its 30th anniversary gala and fundraiser at Benvenuto Restaurant in Boynton Beach.

The nonprofit, which has served more than 3 million meals since its inception in 1983, started out in a van serving soup and sandwiches. In 1997, it moved to its current location on the grounds of the Caridad Center, 8645 W. Boynton Beach Blvd.

The soup kitchen, run by Enrique Zuanetto, 68, a former volunteer and past board member, is open 365 days a year.

“It’s a wonderful job. I’m very proud,” Zuanetto said.

He said the kitchen has a $300,000 annual operating budget and is an all-volunteer effort. It is supported by donations fromresidents and the local business community.

On a recent Wednesday, the regular volunteer crew was busy giving out food, cooking and cleaning up.

Led by Ann Tannen, 89, a 27-year volunteer, the closely bonded crew — Elaine Finkelstein, a 29-year volunteer, Monette Hoffer, Carol Givelli, Marianne Lowe, SylviaHechtman and Aurelia Colom — is devoted to each other and to their clients.

“We want to feed the world,” Tannen said. “People who give of themselves are wonderful. We love each other.”

Finkelstein, of Delray Beach, added, “There areno prima donnas here. Everyone pitches in.”

One of the kitchen’s patrons, West Palm Beach resident Martha Jungbluth, originally from Ecuador, has been looking for a job since February. She said she needs the food tomake ends meet. “I needwork,” she said. Steve Koch, one of the cooks, has volunteered his timetwodays aweek for the past three years. When he’s not cooking for hundreds, Koch, a professional chef, works in a boatyardinDeerfield Beach.

“I like to cook, so I figure I can give back a little,” he said.

The soup kitchen also offers parenting classes and provides diapers and baby food to those in need through its Taking Care of Our Babies program.

Last Christmas, the soup kitchen delivered presents to more than 700 children, each of whom received two or three toys.

“We’re proud of the fact that we could give more than one toy to each child,” Zuanetto said. “And, at Thanksgiving, we gave out 700 frozen turkeys.”

Helene Barnett, a former

SUN SENTINEL STAFF PHOTO BY MARK RANDALL People line up at the Soup Kitchen of Boynton Beach, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary.