Tim Hershey

If Lehigh resident Tim Hershey has his way, a new soup kitchen to feed the working poor and the elderly will be open by this week’s end. But there’s a wait for a permit for the site where the new soup kitchen will open.

Hershey has been operating the soup kitchen at the Christ United Methodist Church and admits that he is angry that the church will only allow the food kitchen to open three days a week, instead for five, like it used to be.

He insists that through donations, there is enough money to purchase food and have meals there.

“People who have no money shouldn’t be told they can’t eat two days a week,” he said.

If all goes well, Hershey said a new site will be opened at the Towers Towers Church on Joel Blvd., the site of the old auditorium which became a restaurant that went out of business and today is a church.

“It’s ideal. It has a kitchen. I can cook food there. I can keep food refrigerated,” he said.

Hershey has a vision for Lehigh. Not only is he planning the open the food kitchen, but he has plans for half way houses for men and women who have no place to go. And already he has one house with two residents on Bacon Ave.

“I realize people may have to stay in such a site for 16 to 18 months to get their life back on track. But if that is what it takes, then that’s what we are going to do. I am hoping to come up with more housing. Those who live in these halfway houses will have rules to follow, but they will have a roof over their heads, he said.

Hershey attends Beautiful Saviour Church on Richmond Ave. and says even though the church may be facing financial crunches like many other churches, its small congregation is supporting his cause to provide a second food kitchen.

“I know those at the Christ United Methodist Church want to it shut down. I don’t know what they will do, but we are going to go for it and open another food kitchen.

Only this one will be different, he said.

Serving hours will be around 5:30 p.m. in the late afternoon or early evening and Hershey hopes to be able to send those who come to get a hot meal a sandwich to take home for lunch the next day.

Right now, Hershey has used much of his own resources in getting the halfway house opened and preparing for the food kitchen’s opening. He owns a company called SmartTech, which handles business systems, including processing of debit and credit cards that people use.

“We are calling the new operation which will include the food kitchen and halfway houses, The Thureos Group, meaning “a shield of faith.” It was a shield used centuries ago by soldiers.

He said the Thureos Group mission is a ministry that provides food, fellowship and housing to people in need and educates our community about hunger, poverty,alcoholism and drug addiction.

“Our family oriented meal site located at and provided by Tower Ministries serves hot, nutritious and delicious food to anyone wishing to come and dine or fellowship.

“Also, provided to those who are limited cooking facilities or to the working poor or retired are heat-n-eat meals or left-overs that can be picked up when they are available,” he said.

Hershey believes that men and women who are jobless need more than food in their stomach, they need a chance to get a job so he plans to try to help people find jobs, too. He said he himself had been given a second chance in life and now it’s his turn to return the favor.

Thureos is a 501(c-3) organization and contributions are needed in the way of food and money to help operate the new food kitchen.

Hershey, who is not married, says he can cook, having learned a lot from Blanda Solomon, a cook at Our Daily Bread at the Christ United Methodist Church who had to leave to take care of an ailing mother in Georgia.

“She was a great southern cook and taught me how to cook using just plain common sense,” Hershey said. But he has help, volunteers who say they can cook, too. They include people like Gayle Scott, Gene Caron, Steen Dolores, Marie Betts and Maxine Cersosimo.

“We can do it in shifts,” he said. “And with more volunteer help in serving and cleaning up, we can pull this off,” he said in a positive tone.

“We’re not going to have a church tell us we can’t serve meals five days a week like what has happened at the Christ United Methodist Church,” Hershey said. “I know what I am saying won’t be liked and that it’s controversial, but that is what is happening.”

He said his church will continue to provide volunteers at the food kitchen at Christ United Methodist Church as do others from various churches, but many will also volunteer at his food kitchen.

“We’re here to feed the hungry and not play politics,” he said.

“I can’t thank Pastor Carlos Valentine at the Ming Towers Church. I went to his church and asked for help and he said what do you need and I said a kitchen and he said they had a working kitchen and we could use it. They also have tables left over from the previous restaurant that occupied the building.

He said he also appreciates the support of his church’s minister, Pastor A.J. Neugebauer. “He said he would do whatever it takes to help us.”

“We plan to be open seven nights a week. People are hungry every day of the week, not just three like we were doing at Our Daily Bread. We had contributions coming in and not opening it up as it was is wrong, he said.

At the new site, Hershey said the kitchen is wonderful, but he does need steam tables and he would like a dish washer. If anyone wants to help, he can be called at 440-4426.

“I’m ready to go. I have food in my garage just waiting to get this under way. If anyone wants to help us, they can call us and we will bring them on,” he said.

“We do need the community’s support. But I see in the future that we can become a self supporting group with some ideas of forming two companies to hire people to help pay for what we are doing,” he said.

Hershey said life hasn’t always been easy for him. And he knows there are lots of people who are struggling right now. This is what I have to do now,” he said.

If you want to help Hershey and his volunteers, you can make tax deductible donations by calling 239-440-4426 or mailing a check to 107 E. Jasmine Rd., Lehigh Acres, FL., 33936.

And if you’d like to volunteer to help, give Hershey a call.