Volunteers step up to ensure success of Heaven's Kitchen

Sen. Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) knows just how important the community volunteers are when it comes to the weekly meal service for Heaven's Kitchen Harrisburg.

"We were short on desserts last week," he said. "I put out a call on our Facebook page the night before and our community responded."

In fact, Fowler posted with the need at 9:45 p.m. Just 12 hours later, responses - and trays of desserts - began flowing in.

"We served 176 guests last week," he said, noting that there was plenty of everything, including desserts, to go around.

Last week's menu was loaded nachos with refried bean, Mexican corn, fruit cocktail and desserts, all served to the guests in just under an hour.

"I can't say enough good things about our volunteers and the community," said Fowler. "We could not do this without them."

Fowler founded the program through the Fowler-Bonan Foundation early last September. The Harrisburg venue serves every Tuesday from 5 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the Harrisburg First Presbyterian Church annex. The program recently began delivering meals to homes for those who have a hard time getting out of the house and regularly serves close to 200 people on a given night.

There is no charge and everyone is welcome.