God's Kitchen Has Their New Building; All is Right with Their World

We are so happy to share these wonderful photographs celebrating the new home of God’s Kitchen! Based in Palatka, FL — the heart of Putnam County — God’s Kitchen has taken ownership of the freestanding former headquarters of Knights of Columbus Council No. 5857. 

The faith-based nonprofit delivers 1,200+ hot home-cooked meals to about 110 homebound and/or food-insecure Putnam County senior citizens. 

Having moved their meal preparations to the Knights of Columbus’ kitchen during COVID, God’s Kitchen was pleased to be able to partner with Knights of Columbus and The Bolger Foundation to enable the purchase of the entire building.

In order to do so, they applied for a $50,000 grant from The Bolger Foundation. We offered them a challenge grant: If they could raise $25,000, we would match that amount.

The K of C agreed to let the cost of building repairs and upgrades already paid for by God’s Kitchen serve as the nonprofit’s down payment. They also were willing to hold the mortgage. 

With the proceeds from the sale of the building, Council No. 5857 planned to fund scholarships for Putnam County’s underserved high school students so that deserving youth could further their educations.

Community donations also help to fill the pantry shelves at God’s Kitchen.

God’s Kitchen began fundraising in the fourth quarter of 2022, as soon as they received their challenge from The Bolger Foundation. A December 8, 2022 article in the Palatka Daily News told the story of the joint venture between God’s Kitchen and the Knights of Columbus, including information on how to donate to the building fund. 

By New Year’s Day, 2023, an outpouring of community support added up to enough money for God’s Kitchen to not only buy their building, but also pave its parking lot.

“This is a win-win for the entire community,” says JT Bolger, president of The Bolger Foundation. “God’s Kitchen gets a permanent home, and the local community students get scholarships from the Knights of Columbus. The impact of the God’s Kitchen grant will be felt for years to come.”