Unique Colorado College soup kitchen could soon close

Outside the Shove Chapel Sunday on the campus of Colorado College, dozens of students protest the potential closure of the school’s community kitchen.

The kitchen has served meals to the homeless and hungry in Colorado Springs since 1992.

“It’s a unique, one-of-a-kind soup kitchen,” volunteer Richard Carwhile said. “It’s one of the few places where disadvantaged and homeless can come and have a social setting and be safe.”

Colorado College associate dean Mike Siddoway contends student involvement with the soup kitchen has dwindled and the time has come to create a new avenue to help this problem on campus.

“You’re continually asking questions how can we improve their lives?” Siddoway said. “This is an effort to move to the next stage, move to the next chapter.”

Students say their time spent serving food is not nearly as meaningful as the lasting relationships they make with vulnerable members of this community.

“It proves that we’re not up here on an elite pedestal,” senior Samuel Scibetta said. “We like to get involved with the community and we don’t want to be closed off in our little college somewhere.”

“All the love and stuff that goes into the kitchen, we couldn’t replace this,” Carwhile said.

If the administration decides to close the soup kitchen, it could do so as early as November 16.

Administrators set aside $20,000 to help students find other solutions to combat homelessness and hunger in our community.