He was just finishing up a catering job for a big budget film when chef, Jamie Klein questioned his life's purpose. He had a passion for cooking and feeding others and he was really, really good at it. He knew he didn't want to own a restaurant . He wasn't sure he even wanted to continue catering. In a soul searching moment he asked, "Why did I get so good at this?" The answer came swiftly, "I want to feed hungry people."
Did this mean signing up to serve in a local soup kitchen? That would be great, he thought, but still he had a family to support. What could he do that would continue to sustain his family and allow him to fulfill his life's purpose? He came up with an idea, "I'll make it. I'll sell it. I'll give it away." It was in that moment that Soup Kitchen Inc. was born.
Everyone Loves Soup
The concept is simple: people have to eat and everyone loves soup. Klein has created several all-natural ingredient soups that he has packaged in dried form. When someone purchases soup from Soup Kitchen Inc. an equal portion is donated to feed the hungry through a local or regional food bank.
Partners in Giving and Receiving
In an article by Angela Higbee, she writes, "Action must be taken both internationally and in local communities to end global hunger... ."
Soup Kitchen Inc. answers this call to action with its "giving and receiving partners" way of doing business. Giving partners, like the NoHo Arts Center for New Thought in North Hollywood, CA and the Fairy Tea Cottage in Seal Beach, CA offer the soup in their own establishments or organizations. Based on the portions they serve, equal portions get delivered to their local food bank or the receivers.
In the case of the Fairy Tea Cottage, the receiver is the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County. The NoHo Arts Center's receiver is the LA Regional Food Bank.
Global Expansion
Soup Kitchen Inc. is currently partnered with Feeding America National Network of Food Banks. Every year Feeding America provides food to 25 million low-income people facing hunger. They believe that "Working as a cohesive system is the only way we can truly solve the hunger crisis."
"Their mission compliments ours," says Klein. "They have the ability to get our soup donations to every zip code in the country. That makes Soup Kitchen's vision easy to accomplish. We also like the idea of people being able to help in their own community."
Soup Kitchen Inc. is now reaching as far as Africa through the Malawi School project.
Ordinary Citizens Change the World
When asked what makes Soup Kitchen Inc. different from other ending world hunger programs, Klein said, "People want to help, but they don't always have the time to volunteer or the ability to donate money. However, everyone has to eat. My concept is simple. You get to do what you always do, and help others at the same time."
As Christine Welter writes, "Ordinary citizens were instrumental in bringing down the Berlin wall, giving women the right to vote and banning the use of landmines in most parts of the world."
Jamie Klein's vision as an ordinary citizen, "Together we can change the way the world helps" calls out to all ordinary citizens to lift their spoons and feed their neighbors.
Jamie works side-by-side with his wife, artist and spiritual practitioner, Lynn Klein. They have one son Gareth. Soup Kitchen Inc. donates through the non profit company, Soup Kitchen Serves.
Sources:
world-hunger.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_global_food_crisis_part_1
world-hunger.suite101.com/article.cfm/a_billion_for_a_billion_campaign_against_hunger
Rita Andriello - Rita is a writer, spiritual practitioner and a teacher. She was born in New York City, and says she was raised on pasta and Italian opera. ...
