Englewood soup kitchen seeks help to remain open

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Mother Betty Price runs one of the only soup kitchens left in the Englewood neighborhood, but now, she needs a helping hand.

"I love feeding people, that's the gift the Lord gave me. I love feeding people," Price said.

Hot dogs, potatoes and peas were on Price's lunch menu Tuesday.

"Food be real good, just like you have dinner at home. It be just like that," said Michael Gaines.

On the corner of 59th and Elizabeth, Feed, Clothe, and Help the Needy, otherwise known as FCHN, can feed about 125 people a day, six days a week.

The program has been running since 1988, but is now experiencing serious financial problems and is struggling to stay open.

"If I can't get the help that I really, really need, I may have to close down. I hope I don't have to close down," Price said.

Price relies heavily on free food from the Greater Chicago Food Depository, but new rules go into effect on August 10. Instead of being able to stock up three days a week, it will be pared down to one.

A food depository spokesperson said it's just a change in procedure to make it more fair for the 650 programs it supplies.

So Price is making a plea to meat houses, grocery stores and wealthy donors for help.

"I need anybody that has money. It could be Spike Lee," Price said. "Call me to help me continue to feed the poor."

Wesley Lawshea seconds her call for support. He comes here three days a week.

"A lot of people are on welfare that get food stamps, sometimes the food stamps not enough to last a month, so you need places like this," Lawshea said.

Price is praying no one has to go hungry.