Soup kitchen serves up hope, and lasagna BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer Above: Volunteers Kay Karlick (l-r) of Carteret and Carolyn Lerro of Port Reading prepare the food at the weekly soup kitchen at the Trinity Episcopal Church on Rahway Avenue, Woodbridge. At left: Fran Kurtz of Sayreville, who has been volunteering at the weekly soup kitchen for seven years at the Trinity Episcopal Church on Rahway Avenue, prepares the salad. WOODBRIDGE - The kitchen at the Trinity Episcopal Church on Rahway Avenue starts bustling with movement every Friday morning as a soup kitchen. On this particular Friday, Fran Kurtz, of Sayreville, who has been volunteering for the kitchen for seven years, is making the salad of lettuce and tomatoes; Carolyn Lerro, of Port Reading, who has been volunteering for six years, is cutting the cheese and pickles; Kay Karlick, of Carteret, who has been volunteering for 15 months, is cutting the bread; John Lerro, who was recruited by his wife, Carolyn, three years ago, is organizing the garbage bags and bins; Noel Meyer, of Colonia, who has been volunteering for nine years, does the heavy-duty lifting of boxes in and out of the kitchen; and Madeline Scarano, who was one of the three women who started the kitchen, is running around making sure they have everything. PHOTOS BY SCOTT PILLING staff "I do the cooking," said Scarano, as she checked on the day's main course, which was vegetable lasagna. "We started this in 1995 because there was a need for the soup kitchen, and we have been continuing it ever since. We also have Doris Signer [of Avenel], who volunteers with us, but she is not here today. We are a great team that works so well together." On the menu today, Jan. 5, is vegetable lasagna, cream of broccoli soup, green beans, bread, and for dessert, peach cobbler. "Every week, the menu changes," said Scarano. "We've had spaghetti and meatballs and my homemade rice pudding. The lunch is for anybody. Everybody is welcome. They don't have to be a member of the parish. Only two of our seven volunteers are members of the parish. We probably average 30 people every week." The group makes a meal for 30 people, and if there are leftovers, they bag them up and send them home with the people who came. "Most of the food is donated by local businesses," Scarano said. "For example, we get our bread from D'Orsi Bakery on Port Reading Avenue. Some people even drop food off." Volunteers file into the kitchen at 9 a.m. and start prepping the food. At a quarter to noon, the crew starts to serve the hot food. The group has had help along the way. "The Girl Scouts come and volunteer," Kurtz said. "School kids come and help for their community service requirement for their confirmations. We've had the cerebral palsy group volunteer." On this particular day, the group had a surprise visit from Mayor John E. McCormac, who dropped by to say hello. "These volunteers do a great job," he said. "I came to volunteer over the holiday and brought the food baskets that we received over at Town Hall and donated them to the kitchen. They are a great group of people." Karlick said the group also does special themes for special occasions. "Over the holiday, we served the food on tablecloths," she said. "We had Christmas decorations and napkins. We gave out extra goodie bags." The volunteers mostly see the same faces, and every once and a while they will see a new face. Angelina Hurd comes every Friday because she likes to meet and socialize with people. "The volunteers treat us very nice," said Hurd. "I like meeting and socializing with all the nice people." Hurd is one of many who comes and socializes and enjoys a free hot meal every Friday morning. "The volunteers work very hard for us," said Joan Fabricatore. "They are wonderful and are the best." Anna Gabris and Violet Nadsky hope the soup kitchen continues. "It's very good," Nadsky said. "I hope it continues forever because people need it."