Detroit soup kitchen reopens after fire causes $300,000 in damages

Published: 2006-01-06

DETROIT (CNS) -- The All Saints Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen at All Saints Parish in Detroit was back in operation Jan. 2, after a fire that started late on Christmas Day forced its cancellation during the last week of 2005. The fire destroyed the kitchen adjacent to the parish hall, in the basement of the church, and there was smoke and water damage to the hall, as well as smoke damage to the church itself. "The fire appears to have been electrical in origin, and caused over $300,000 in damage," said Father Ed Zaorski, pastor of All Saints Parish. A parish maintenance man discovered the fire about 1 a.m. Dec. 26. Firefighters conjectured that it had probably started to smolder several hours earlier. The soup kitchen reopened in the former parish convent, which will serve as its temporary home while repairs are made. Although it is not large enough to accommodate at one seating all the approximately 250 people who typically show up for the twice-weekly meals, the soup kitchen will now start earlier and stay open later to serve the same number of people.

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