KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — God’s Kitchen has announced that the annual Thanksgiving dinner will now continue as planned.
Previously, the organization had announced that the dinner would be cancelled due to a lack of funding.
Following the launch of a GoFundMe campaign, the organization has surpassed the requested funds to hold the dinner.
At the time of this writing, the campaign has raised over $7,000 of the requested $5,000.
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God’s Kitchen of Michigan, a charity soup kitchen organization based in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek, has announced the cancellation of their annual Thanksgiving dinner.
The organization cites a lack of funds and donations as the reason for the decision.
“This is the first time in our 8-year history that God’s Kitchen of Michigan has canceled a holiday event,” said Pastor William Stein, Co-founder and Chairman of the soup kitchen. “My heart is heavy because the television media has abandoned us by refusing to share our information with the public. It is as though we have been black-listed by some media organizations.”
The organization had previously appealed to the public for donations towards the dinner. The organization says that only two news outlets, WKZO and WBKC, shared the information with the public.
“We thank WKZO and WBCK for understanding the urgency of this public appeal and sharing it both on-air and online,” Pastor Stein said.
Following the weekly free dinner by the organization this Wednesday, God’s Kitchen will be temporarily shut down while funds are secured for operations.
Several grant proposal requests have been written to Kalamazoo area foundations in order to raise funds.
Additionally, the annual Free Community Christmas Dinner, currently scheduled for Wednesday, December 18th, may also be canceled if the agency does not reach its fundraising goal.
Grant funds from Walmart in Oshtemo, as well as Atena and Meijer on Westnedge, have contributed funds for the cause. The fundraising deadline for this event is December 10th.
God’s Kitchen is also asking the public for help with funds.
All donations can be made by sending a check or money order to God’s Kitchen of Michigan, P.O. Box 2632, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49003, or online here.
