Gulf Pine Catholic

20 Gulf Pine Catholic • October 29, 2021 Soup’s off? Loaves & Fishes Soup Kitchen in danger of closing BY TERRY DICKSON BILOXI -- In less than three months, a soup kitchen that caters to the less fortunate, many of whom are homeless, could be out of a home. Loaves & Fishes currently operates out of DeMiller Hall on Water Street in Biloxi. However, according to Father Greg Barras, the kitchen’s time in that facility is quickly com- ing to an end. “The building has been sold and we have until Dec. 31 of this year to move out,” said Father Barras, chairman of the Loaves & Fishes board of directors, who is desperately working with others to find a new location. “No physical site is apparent at this time, so we’re thinking outside the box.” Suzanne Guice, a Biloxi native who previ- ously served as the volunteer interim executive director for Bethel Free Health clinic in Biloxi, was recently hired to serve as executive director of Loaves & Fishes. “Having a catering background, I think we have to look at it as having off-site catering,” said Guice. “You prepare it some place and then you take to a location where it’s served to go. We’re also considering the use of a food truck. We’re looking at all options.” Father Barras looks at those options as a stop- gap measure that would fulfill the mission of Loaves and Fishes until a permanent physical location is found. “Ideally, it would have 3,000 sq. ft. of space with enough space for storage of dry goods, a walk-in freezer, refrigerators and an ice machine, as well as a space to put tables and chairs for guests to come and eat,” he said. Loaves & Fishes is open four days a week -- Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday -- from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. for breakfast and 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for lunch. Lunchtime visitors also receive a third meal in a to-go bag. Although the num- bers vary, the kitchen serves approximately 80 people during both breakfast and lunch. Loaves & Fishes also has a program called Martha’s Meals, which provides meals three times a week for about 60 shut-ins. Father Barras said that the city of Biloxi is a “place of destination because of climate, location for places to sleep: beach, forests, vacant lots, etc, and because they are treated with dignity and respect versus ‘what they can get.’” Father Barras said the most difficult part of dealing with the homeless is mental ill- ness. “Mental illness is a growing reality in our society, more pronounced in the hungry and homeless,” he said. “As we look to do some- thing in the future collectively with different agencies, that is a significant component that must be addressed because it is so grave.” A new, permanent facility would go a long way toward addressing those issues. “We’re at the mercy of Jesus,” said Father Barras. “If you have a location or a food truck, call us and let us know. The hungry will not go away. If there is no place to feed them and we have no resource to get the food to them, they’re going to be knocking on the doors of churches, busi- nesses and homes because they’re hungry.” For more information, contact Loaves & Fishes at (228) 436-6172 or suzanne@loavesbi- loxi.com . Suzanne Guice, Executive Director of Loaves and Fishes in Biloxi and Father Greg Barras, chairman of the Loaves & Fishes board of directors, stand in front of DeMiller Hall, where the kitchen is currently located. According to Father Barras, the kitchen’s lease will expire on Dec. 31 and now the search is on for a new facility out of which to serve meals. Photo/Terry Dickson