Greenwood Interfaith Ministries' Community Kitchen has seen a roller coaster year financially.
Sometimes they're rolling in the dough, and sometimes they're scraping the bottom of the pot.
"We're totally dependent on the good will of the people," said Richard Beattie, chairman of the Ministries' fund-raising committee.
At the beginning of 2005, the kitchen's bank account was often empty and sometimes in the red.
The community rallied behind Greenwood Interfaith Ministries and began pouring its support into the kitchen's coffers.
At a recent meeting, Beattie reported that donations had doubled from 2004 to more than $100,000. This exceeded their fund-raising goal by $8,000.
A portion of that money comes from fund-raisers independent of Greenwood Interfaith Ministries.
Last year, people put on their dancing shoes and found out how a little rumba can make a big difference.
The Jon D. Williams Cotillion, sponsored by First Presbyterian Church, raised more than $1,500 for the soup kitchen.
Jan Sturdivant, one of the organizers, said contributing to the kitchen is a way to impact the whole community.
Sturdivant has worked with the John D. Williams Cotillion for many years. The organization teaches etiquette and dancing all over the United States.
When she heard they would do fund-raisers, Sturdivant was thrilled.
When people are dancing, they have fun, they learn a new skill and they raise money for a good cause, Sturdivant said. "In my mind, it's a win-win-win situation."
Sturdivant and Lynn Ross will host the Cotillion on Feb. 11.
Beattie has noticed that one fund-raiser often leads to another as community awareness rises.
"There's a hidden benefit to the fund-raisers. It starts to snowball," he said.
Great Southern Funeral Home chipped in with a gospel concert held last summer.
W.A. Melton, manager, had planned a gospel concert for that summer anyway. After a visit to the community kitchen, he decided to donate the proceeds to Greenwood Interfaith Ministries.
The staff compiled a souvenir booklet and raised money through advertisements. "Everyone thought it was very good," said Melton.
People came from all over to watch the concert. The funeral home quickly ran out of T-shirts to sell.
With more planning, another concert this year could be bigger and better, Melton said.
The kitchen operates on about $350 a day, which includes utilities, maintenance and some labor costs. Of that, about $175 goes towards food.
It's hard to estimate how much independent fund-raisers contributed to the overall 2005 operation. Donations are broken up into separate categories according to source. In 2005, churches provided 48 percent of donations, private individuals 28 percent, businesses 17 percent and miscellaneous donations accounted for 13 percent.
Sturdivant's cotillion would fall under the category of churches, since it's being held at First Presbyterian.
The kitchen is run financially like any other business. Beattie, who is the national sales manager for Viking Range Corp.'s culinary products division, said the kitchen is on strict budget.
Board members have successfully trimmed down operating expenses in 2005.
Now that the kitchen is on more stable ground financially, Greenwood Interfaith Ministries is turning its attention to other projects.
The Bishop family, formerly of Greenwood, recently donated three parcels of land on McGehee Street.
Board members would like to see the construction of a shelter on the property. The shelter would be used to temporarily house the homeless or serve abused women and children.
