The Carpenter’s Corner, Inc. is a soup kitchen located at 104 Prince Street in downtown Beckley, West Virginia.  At present the establishment is open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of each week.  A hot meal is prepared on premise and served to an average eighty five persons each day.  This is a cooperating, not for profit ministry committed to serving meals and showing care and concern for the hungry, lonely soul who is in need of encouragement.  Volunteers from sixteen churches support this ministry by volunteering or contributing financially.

    It was determined there was a definite need for this ministry in the downtown area when Jacob’s Ladder, a soup kitchen previously located on Heber Street was closed.  Volunteers who worked at Jacob’s Ladder were determined to relocate and secured the

Annex to First Christian Church which previously housed a day care.  Hoping to use the kitchen at First Christian, it appeared to be a simple operation to undertake.

    It was decided that the “new soup kitchen” would need to establish a separate kitchen and not use the Church kitchen as planned.   This plan came to fruition when a business man, also a church member of one of the participating churches, donated the kitchen appliances from an elementary school which was no longer in use.  After obtaining certification from the Health Department and Beckley Fire Department, The Carpenter’s Corner prepared and served the first meal on August 22, 2005.  These meals are nutritious and are prepared and served by volunteers who have attended classes to obtain food handler’s cards.  Other volunteers, who do not cook or serve, work in the dining room.  Every attempt is made to establish a rapport with our clients; a genuine feeling of care and concern is expressed.  The clients often participate in a “sing along” to the accompaniment of musical instruments, played by volunteers.

    The Carpenter’s Corner, Inc has  By-Laws and a Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors consists of twenty four members elected from the participating churches.  The members serve one, two and three year terms.  Officers, elected annually, consist of a President, President-elect, Secretary and Treasurer. 

    In September of 2007, an Appreciation Luncheon was held at Beckley Presbyterian Church for the volunteers.  The Carpenter’s Corner was pleased to announce that 14,293 meals were served during the last twelve months.  Eighty seven volunteers present were recognized and thanked for their devotion to this ministry. Another Appreciation Luncheon was held in September 2008.

    We invite you to come see what God has done in downtown Beckley, WV.  God has richly blessed this ministry and from our efforts, other ministries have grown to Pine Haven, Storm Haven, Burlington Family Services and the Fellowship Home.