WILKES-BARRE -- A soup kitchen in Luzerne County is trying to live the message of Pope Francis, but volunteers at St. Vincent de Paul Kitchen in Wilkes-Barre say it's getting tougher and tougher to do that.
Volunteers at St. Vincent de Paul Kitchen say the number of working poor is on the rise in the Wilkes-Barre area, and that's putting pressure on them to feed more mouths.
It's a simple plate of some macaroni and cheese with a bowl of soup and small slice of pie, but for Maia Mikhaili of Wilkes-Barre the meal goes a long way in a world that sometimes seems tough.
She survives on Social Security, but it's often not enough. She's one of about 350 people who eat lunch every day at St. Vincent de Paul Kitchen on Jackson Street.
"It's very simple. I pay my electric and don't eat, or eat and don't pay my electric, and now I'm evicted," said Mikhaili.
The kitchen is run by Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Scranton. Volunteers see hope in Pope Francis' fight for social and economic equality, even after seeing what they say is an increase in the number of hungry people in recent years, especially within the working poor.
"They are working and we get toward the end of the month like today and they have to make a decision: do they pay their rent, do they buy their utilities or do they buy food?" explained Dr. Bill Scergalis, a volunteer at St. Vincent's.
People who come to the St. Vincent de Paul kitchen believe the pope is trying to relate to them, something they hope to see more of.
"Well, to me, it rings home; it resonates," said Scergalis.
"God bless this place! I mean truly, God has blessed this place and has blessed all of us who come here. Because what would we do? What would we do?" Mikhaili asked.
St. Vincent de Paul Kitchen in Wilkes-Barre is always looking for volunteers and for food.
