Agape Soup Kitchen, Essay Example

Chapter I

The Agape Soup Kitchen was chosen as a business because the primary goal was not profit but to provide a service that was needed in Pasco County, Florida to feed the hungry. The Agape Soup Kitchen was asking for several businesses for donations, gifts, and endowments of $500,000 as initial invest in the entrepreneurial opportunity. This unique soup kitchen will service homeless people each day and dual as neighborhood soup kitchen that was open for business. All the proceeds from the paying customers and cash donations from businesses will keep it operating with fiscal responsibility.

Purpose of the Project

The purpose of the Agape Soup Kitchen Wasted Food Project was to determine how beneficial the food program would be to the homeless population integrated with the existing homeless food services in the county. The Agape Soup Kitchen was a realistic option that does not require the taxpayer to pay the bill for a massive financial commitment to feeding and housing the homeless population. The secondary purpose was to build new relationships with corporate America to be involved with feeding and housing the needy without using taxpayers’ dollars. The Agape Soup Kitchen will ask the large businesses such as Xerox, IBM, and Microsoft to donate funds yearly towards the feeding and housing of the homeless people.

The Pasco County population has a dire need. In Pasco County, Florida, the widespread news has shared that Pasco County has an epidemic of homeless people (Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County, 2015). The State of Florida has acknowledge that the Pasco County population has the highest number of homeless people in the state of Florida (Sanders, 2013.) The Hillsboro County has the largest margin of homeless residents which some of the data reported as duplicate homeless count. The homeless will move from Hillsboro to Pasco County depending on their needs, time of year, and the weather. However, the Hillsboro County and the Hillsboro Homeless Council has disputed the numbers of Hillsboro having the largest population of homeless (Tampa Hillsboro Homeless Initiative, 2013).The count by Hillsboro included all homeless people that stayed with family or friends therefore Hillsboro was double counting the homeless (Kinsler, 2013). The perception of the local coalitions that Pasco County has the most number of homeless in any country because the Pasco does a head count of the thousands of homeless that are housed at night. In reality, Pasco County had a major need for support in feeding the hungry. The primary purpose was to work with the local government, homeless collations to ensure that the underserved homeless population receives support from the Matthew Soup Kitchen (Hoover, 2013).

The local agencies such as the Coalition of Homeless People of Pasco County need support in serving the entire county. The first sign of serious problems was when 56,000 young schoolchildren were facing the challenge of getting something to eat instead of learning on a full stomach. The businesses would take interest because in the day and times of good corporate responsibility was seen as a positive; the businesses would participate in the food donations. The bottom line:  children are hungry in Pasco County, Florida

Setting, History, and Background of the Problem

The Agape Soup Kitchen followed the model of the 1983 Soup Kitchen of Boynton Beach. The Agape Soup Kitchen followed the social phenomenon of soup kitchens in 1929, which came to the aid of millions of people that were unemployed and broken. The soup kitchen has a rich tradition of humanitarian support traced back to the 1929 depression, which a nation was fed by the community, volunteers, and churches. In 1983, The Soup Kitchen of Boynton Beach had success asking for community and business support. The collaboration of a very tight knit community flourished by serving thousands of hungry homeless people. (TheSoupKitchen.org, 2013). In 1983, three women wanted to make a difference in the lives of those that may be less fortunate to be hungry. The families or individuals that need help often receive lack luster help or they were taken advantage in the worst ways. These three ladies of the people, Gwen James, Veronica Payne and Bee Brown took a donated van bringing soup and sandwiches to families that were hungry (TheSoupKitchen.org, 2013).

These women embarked on a journey to convince local businesses to donate property to help the community’s needy. The persistency worked because a business donated an old building to provide a place for the women to feed the needy. In addition, the women managed to get the community to help convert the old building into a soup kitchen. In addition, these women encourage community and business support that led to all the materials being donated to completely renovate the old building. The Soup Kitchen of Boynton Beach served over 260,000 people in a 10-year period. These courageous women inspired the Agape Soup Kitchen that wouldfollow the business model while implementing the “Waste Food Program.”

Historically, in Pasco County there were many community, City Council, and Coalition of Homeless People of Pasco County attempts at various solutions to the population going hungry. The Department of Motor Vehicle agreed to promote a one dollar donation to the renewal of automobile tags to support the financial needs of the homeless population. It was clear that the Pasco County would welcome any kind of support that was helping with the financial burdens of the homeless population (OneCommunityNow.com, 2015). In addition, any financial relief to the State and Pasco County would be supported and welcomed.

Scope

The Agape Soup Kitchen was a for-profit organization located in the downtown Pasco County, Florida. The for-profit organization provided hot and cold meals to the homeless population including both adults and children as well as the “Waste Food Program.” The primary goal was to ensure that the thousands of Pasco County men and women do not go one night hungry or without a place to dwell, especially during inclement weather.

The food kitchen will be run by volunteers, community workers and supporting workers from the Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County. The community will have a 25-person board that will ensure that the community provides materials, volunteers, potential staff workers and to ensure the community was informed. The food kitchen will have one full time Chef and 5 volunteer Chefs along with 25 food volunteers, one Director of Food Services, 4 Outreach Coordinators, and 15 assorted volunteers that serve food, clean-up, and clean the facility.

The Agape Soup Kitchen will be an urban area located near downtown areas because that was the strategic location for homeless people. They gravitate towards the urban downtown areas because of more places to hide; more homeless shelters are normally located downtown and emergency agencies and shelters normally close to downtown urban areas. The business will operation as a for-profit business will make a profit however, the proceeds will be invested back into the business to meet the primary goals of Matthews Soup Kitchen. The traditional soup kitchen was for-profit with operational hours just a few hours each day. However, the business model for Agape Soup Kitchen will have the feel and look of a quality restaurant and good food.

Importance/Significance of Project

The Agape Soup Kitchen will be established on a promise to ensure that the needy, hungry and homeless would always have a place to eat. The grocery stores will donate food each week to ensure the homeless get the best nutrition not aged food no one wants. The Agape Soup Kitchen will be started from support from the local community to those less unfortunate. The food will come from the local hotels that will donate food weekly to ensure the homeless will be feed. The restaurants will provide food at the end of each breakfast; lunch and dinner dining to ensure the nursing homes and homeless receive healthy food. The Agape Soup Kitchen will be established on the foundation of the biblical message on Matthews 25: 34: 46: When you see someone hungry give them something to eat, when you see someone thirsty and you gave me something to drink, when you see a stranger in need you invited them in for comfort, when you see them needing clothes, you will clothe them (BibleGateway, 2015). The primary scope was to feed the homeless people.

The primary focus will be finding businesses that waste food to join the fight against hunger in Pasco County by joining and participating in the Agape Soup Kitchen promise that no child shall go to sleep hungry. The Agape Soup Kitchen promised to insure that all homeless people receive a lifesaving well balanced nutritious meal that prolongs health. The community will join the program in an effort to feed the hungry with contributions of their time. The Agape Soup Kitchen project found its solution to feeding the hungry in Pasco County, by utilizing the massive number of wasted food in the local city limits. The number of resources for wasted food was limitless in organizations such as grocery stores, bread stores, fresh fruit and vegetables markets, organic food markets, and a plethora of hotels and restaurants. Pasco County, Florida has an extreme need for food assistance, there was an estimated 1.7 million food being wasted in the State of Florida. The wasted food by local hotels, restaurants can feed the homeless and combat hunger in Pasco County Florida.

Summary

The Agape Soup Kitchen was a company started as a for profit entity with a mission  to provide food to the homeless people in Pasco County, Florida. The Agape Soup Kitchen was building the foundation of this business by working with local businesses to help the homeless with a commitment to provide donations and endowments. The amount needed to provide support to the homeless soup kitchen to begin feeding the hungry need $500,000 as an initial investment. The soup kitchen volunteers would reach out to those in need every day providing hot and cold meals for needy families. The Agape Soup Kitchen has planned to dual as soup kitchen restaurant during the day. The proceeds generated by the soup kitchen from the local paying customers to keep the soup kitchen in operations while ensuring The Agape Soup Kitchen remains with fiscally accountable.

Definition of Terms

• Barter-An arraignment made to trade without cash changing hands but something of value
• Endowment-An action of an individual or company that leaves money, property, or inheritance to an establishment
• Entrepreneurial-Some who likes take risk to open a business in hopes of making a profit
• Fiscal-The time of year that a company decided is the end of the corporate or business year.
• Inclement-The weather is not pleasant
• Nutrition- obtaining food that is good for the body
• Catastrophic-A event that damage or devastated a population of people or land
• Sanctuaries- A place that will give a person a place live which may be religious
• Phenomenon –An interesting fact
• Depression-feeling being dejected or unhappy for no reason

Chapter II

Literature Review and Option Selection

The Soup Kitchen has historical contributions that reach early civilizations such as the Qing Dynasty in the 17^th century and the Ottman Turkish Tribes in the 14^th century. These articles support the theory that the soup kitchens are good community businesses that will be successful. The literature provide supporting case studies such was the Ford, Laudeau & Vanderbilt (2012) case studies that show that when the government programs failed, the soup kitchen always found a way to feed the people. The literature was organized by articles and cases studies that addressed the history and successes of the soup kitchen to show that the Agape Soup Kitchen was a viable business. The literature review was based on peer reviews articles or journals that provide the best validation because of previous respected studies in the field of soup kitchens. The arraignment of literate found that history shows that the most stable business in the community is food banks and soup kitchens going back to the 14^th century.

The literature review considered the “Option Selections” which help with choosing the right literature to support the grant option. The soup kitchen needs more than one source for support to keep the soup kitchen operating. The literature help to finding resources or literate that had success using different community support ideas. The peer review literature provides some specific historical comparisons that correlates soup kitchen as a necessity for civilizations to function as a whole. The soup kitchen literature history was the most important because the historical events are compared to the current homeless needs of Pasco County. The historical literation provides the validation and supports the theory of opening a soup kitchen as a viable business opportunity. In addition, the historical background shows how the soup kitchen workings in China and Turkey meaning that the soup kitchen speaks a universal language that applies today in the soup kitchen communities in the 20^th century.

History of Soup Kitchens

The Soup Kitchen history has evidence of successful large-scale soup kitchens to feed the needy of that generation. In the 14^th century, the soup kitchen was successful in the Ottman Tribes Turkish populations that provided support to the hungry and dual as the socially responsible kingdom (Gal & Ajzenstadt, 2013). The Qing Dynasty is another example that soup kitchens are viable community options for feeding the homeless and poor. In the 17^th century, the Qing Dynasty used the soup kitchen as a way to make a social commentary that they are committed to taking care of the poor, hungry and homeless. In Europe, the government addresses the poverty and hunger in Europe after the Napoleonic wars, soup kitchens responded to the lack of work and hunger by opening soup kitchens for the hungry population (Gal & Ajzenstadt, 2013). The literature by Gal & Ajzenstadt, 2013 supports the idea of soup kitchens supporting the communities that have the need for humanitarian help for homeless and hungry populations. In addition, the authors provide historical facts and timeliness on the contributions of different countries helping the poor such food kitchens becoming the primary tool that Israel utilized to fed the mass population of people that were starving.

Case Studies Soup Kitchen

In a case study by Ford, Lardeau and Vanderbilt (2012), the Canadian Artic community of Iqaluit, Nunavut had a failed community program to feed the hungry. The Canadian government provided resources to ensure the citizens would not be hungry during the winter seasons. The survey results the 79% of citizens relied on the food banks and soup kitchens as much as 2 to 3 times a day to stay alive. Another 46% cited that the food banks provider support to a population that has limited living quarters leaving many homeless and hungry. The participants cited with the food banks it provide access to food in the winter season (Ford, Lardeau & Vanderbilt, 2012). This literature supports the fact that when all other solutions failed to feed a needy populations the food bank and soup kitchens can help.

Case Studies Humanitarian Programs

The soup kitchen has humanitarian efforts from 1929 to 1933 that fed the people of the nation because the of the stock market crash. The economic condition was so bad that people were in the streets begging for food to stay alive. It was father Herman Buss of the monastery that started soup kitchens during the era to follow the tradition of feeding the hungry (U-SHistory.com, 2015). The soup kitchen provides not only a safe haven for the poor but also they provide the moral support along with a hot meal.

The Soup Kitchens and food banks are the oldest from of public that has the reputation of helping the community anytime there was a family or individual in need of shelter (Stauffer, 2006). The Soup Kitchen humanitarian efforts have always been supported by businesses, community, and corporate sponsors. The key to the success of soup kitchens is support from the local food banks and corporate sponsors. The businesses have provided support for 25 million people per year supporting the hungry (Stauffer, 2006).

The soup kitchen has a rich history of emerging as the champions of social poverty problems while supporting the people during bad and good economic times. The literature pointed at any disaster in history points to the community, monastery, or volunteers that gave their time and efforts to ensure those less fortunate was feed.

This article from Seagal (2015) shows that the business community has historically contributed to the soup kitchen to help the less fortunate. In Pottsville, Pennsylvania, the business sector worked with the soup kitchen using the barter system with the local jeweler. The jewelers cannot afford to be close for long hours for lunch and many times, they eat their lunch while still waiting on customers. The Pottsville jeweler has given anyone from the soup kitchen good discounts in exchange for hot meals five days a week directly to the jeweler free (Gessel,2009). The problem was solved for the jewelers because the soup kitchens bring them meals every day while supporters of the soup kitchen get discounts. The business model made the news, which many other businesses wanted the same service offering their services for anyone associated with the soup kitchen.

Pasco County was a prime location to open Agape Soup Kitchen because of the population needs. The numbers are staggering in Pasco County, Florida, it has been documented that in 2012 over 60,000 homeless people living in shelters or living on the street without food. The emergency shelter and transitional house shelters shelter and attempt to feed 105,000 homeless people each year (Department of Children and Family,(2012). In the school year 2010-2010, there was a reported 56, 0000 young school age children identified as homeless by the local school districts in Pasco County, Florida. There was enough statistical data to show that the Agape Soup Kitchen would be successful and accepted by Pasco County city government and community. Finally, according to the 2012 Homeless report on a cold day in 2012 in January 2012, the number of homeless people living on the streets was 54,300. This accurate count of the homeless population makes Florida the third largest state population of homeless people in the country (Department of Children and Family, 2012).

In a soup kitchen literature review, the study by Commercial Kitchen use in the community indicated that the biggest problem is passing the health inspection when cooking hot food. The state has to approve any location that is cooking food with ovens and full kitchen operations. The major cost to the start-up soup kitchen is the entire kitchen equipment, which has to pass state certification of operations as well. One primary success of the soup kitchen was the assessment of the soup kitchen to ensure quality of food operations is maintained (Feasibility Study for a Commercial Shared Use Kitchen for Wallow County, 2012). The study supports the literature.

Homeless Population Estimates

The third topic of study is Pasco County is how measurement of the homeless problem is not always calculated correctly causes Pasco County to miss funding. The literature from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development shows that the Pasco County population has increased every two years, despite the efforts of the Pasco County agencies and state government (Sanders, 2013). The study indicated that the government provides grants for the neediest populations, which Pasco County qualifies for these grants. The Department of Children and Family (DCF) literature provides all the statistical proof that there was a serious problem in Pasco County that has a population of people that are not being fed in the United States (Council on Homelessness, 2012). The Pasco County calculation was different causing the Pasco County not to review the funding required for the number of homeless people. The tax monies are being spent on the counties that have double counting to receive the most funding. The awarding of the additional funds to Pasco County would ease the burden on taxpayers and help other agencies keep their programs alive.

The measurement at the state and federal levels has different formulas that determine which states get the most funding. The Department of Housing and Urban Development was making adjustments to utilize different formulas because of the number of complaints. The calculations of the measurement of how many homeless are population in these states that some counties are double counting like Hillsboro County in Tampa to receive extra funding. This topic needs to be discussed and put on calendar for legislation.

Summary

The literature demonstrated that the soup kitchen historically comes to the aid of populations that are homeless and hungry. The Qing Dynasty in 17^th century champion helping any population that needs help with survival using soup kitchens as a way to help society’s ills. The Ottman Turkish tribes of the 14^th century were the pioneers developing soup kitchens to help the community and overall social rest of the poor. All these articles and cases support the theory that the soup kitchens are vital to the poor and needy in every civilization. The literature provides strong cases studies such as Ford, Laudeau & Vanderbilt (2012). This study shows that regardless of what social programs do not work, the soup kitchen historically feeds the poor.  The literature shows that every civilization has championed the supporting and helping the poor in order to provide humanitarian support for the preservation of that civilization. The literature is balanced with internet relevant articles, journal articles, peer review, and case studies to round out the literature review. The diverse literature information shows the soup kitchen history and viability as a business was researched along with provided a strong literature review on the subject of soup kitchens.

Option Selection

The literature review analysis determines that the best fit for the soup kitchen was not Option 1. The literature shows that throughout history the soup kitchen has been a successful and via option for the poor. The soup kitchens were mostly implemented not addressing an existing program. Thus, the Option 1 mission is to alleviate a problem and measured the success the intervention. Option 1 is Applied Design, which does not fit the model for a new business like the soup kitchen.

Option 1 clearly states this is not a proposal but an active ongoing problem that is trying to find solutions. The Pasco County issue of not enough food was a continuous social problem that needed new programs not improves or corrects old programs in place that was not working.

In addition, the Option 1 indicated the program would be evaluated in one year. The soup kitchen needs to be evaluated on a monthly basis because the funding would be provided each month or quarter and the soup kitchen needs to show their success each month. The Applied Design Intervention was considered but it was hard to fit this option into a business plan that need funding to get the program started. The Option 2 has the best options for this soup kitchen because major funding would be needed to keep the program going each year. The Option 2 provides grant and other options for obtaining the 500,000 needed to start the program. In addition, each year historically in Pasco County the population of the homeless has increased making it difficult for just one program to serve the need of the Pasco County.

The Option 2 is the best fit because the Agape Soup Kitchen is asking for $500,000 from businesses that could be in a form of donations or a grant. The Option Grant Proposal is the best option because the soup kitchen can obtain continued funding for the soup kitchen without worrying about paying back a loan. In addition, Option 1 allows the Agape Soup Kitchen leaders to learn how to obtain other funding through the grant resources.

The Option 3 was not a fit because the soup kitchen was not being submitted as a thesis and the Option 4 was the first considered as the best fit but the feasibility study is not necessary for my business. The state has already indicated there is a need for the soup kitchen. The Feasibility Study appeared to be the perfect match however, during the research the primary question was answered with the literature. The state of Florida had already support any help from the state, community, private sector or other agencies to address the epic raise in homeless people in Pasco County.

References

BibleGateway. (2015).Matthews 25:34:46: New International Version (NIV). Retrieved May 4, 2015 from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthews+25:34-46

Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County. (n.d.) About the coalition for the homeless of Pasco County. Retrieved May 3, 2015 from http://www.pascohomelesscoalition.org/

Department of Children and Family. (2012).Council on Homelessness: 2012 Report. Retrieved 05/01/2015 from  http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/programs/homelessness/docs/2012CouncilReport.pdf

Feasibility Study for a Commercial Shared Use Kitchen for Wallow County (2012). Retrieved May 3, 2015 from www.wallowcounty.com

Ford, J., Lardeau, M, & Vanderbilt, W. (2012). The characteristics and experience of community food program users in arctic Canada: a case study from Iqaluit, Nunavut. BMC Public Health. 12:464. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-12-464.

Gal, J., & Ajzenstadt, M. (2013). The long path from a soup kitchen to a welfare state in Israel. Journal of Policy History: JPH, 25(2), 240-263. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0898030613000055

Hoover, P. (2013).Community health needs assessment final report. Retrieved on May 10, 2015 from https://www.floridahospital.com/sites/default/files/florida_hospital_north_pinellas_2013_chna_final_report.pdf

Kinsler, L. (2014, Aug).Pasco’s homeless population 2^nd highest in the State. Retrieved May 10, 2015 from http://tbo.com/pasco-county/pascos-homeless-population-nd-highest-in-state-250409

OneCommunityNow. (2015).West Pasco Community Volunteers. Retrieved May 10, 2015 from http://www.generationscc.com/west-pasco-county-volunteer-opportunities

Sanders, K. (2013, Apr). Pasco County has second highest homeless population in Florida, advocate claims. Tampa Bay-Miami Herald. Retrieved May 3, 2015 from http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2013/apr/10/brian-anderson/pasco-county-has-states-second-highest-homeless-po/

Tampa Hillsboro Homeless Initiatives. (2013). Homeless Resources. Retrieved from May 5, 2015 from http://thhi.org/

The Soup Kitchen.org. (2013). History: The Soup Kitchen: Feeding the heart, mind, and body. Retrieved May 1, 2015 fromhttp://www.thesoupkitchen.org/history.html

Depression-era soup kitchens.  (2015). U-SHistory.com. Retrieved May 5, 2015 from http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1660.html

Segal, George. (2014).Soup kitchens and bread lines: Film Commentary. Retrieved May 10, 2015 from http://www.history.com/photos/soup-kitchens-and-bread-lines

Kinsler, L. (2014, Aug).Pasco’s homeless population 2^nd highest in the State. Retrieved May 10, 2015 from http://tbo.com/pasco-county/pascos-homeless-population-nd-highest-in-state-250409