History
Kingdom Community Services grew from community meals and outreach efforts organized by local faith communities. For many years, these programs operated under the umbrella of North Congregational Church and were supported by volunteers, churches, businesses, and community members.
KCS was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization on January 17, 2017, bringing many of these long-standing efforts together under one organization.
We are grateful to the many people who have shared their time, talents, resources, and generosity throughout KCS's history.
KCS was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization on January 17, 2017, bringing many of these long-standing efforts together under one organization.
We are grateful to the many people who have shared their time, talents, resources, and generosity throughout KCS's history.
History of Kingdom Community Services - St Johnsbury
A Brief Timeline
1990s — Community meals begin at Grace UMC, South Congregational Church, and North Congregational Church. Food Shelf and Thrift Store established.
2000 — Ramona Letourneau begins coordinating the Co-Op Christmas program for KCS.
2009 — Saturday Community Meal begins at UUC.
2017 — Kingdom Community Services becomes an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
2019 — KCS Thrift Store closes. UUC begins major kitchen renovations.
2020 — COVID-19 changes meal service; sites transition to take-out meals.
2021 — UCC building experiences frozen pipes and flooding, delaying reopening.
2022 — Meal sites reopen. UCC completes major renovations. Keep Us Warm restarts. Julie Gist becomes lead coordinator of Christmas Co-Op.
2022–2023 — Major renovations take place at the Food Shelf while continuing to serve the community.
2000 — Ramona Letourneau begins coordinating the Co-Op Christmas program for KCS.
2009 — Saturday Community Meal begins at UUC.
2017 — Kingdom Community Services becomes an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
2019 — KCS Thrift Store closes. UUC begins major kitchen renovations.
2020 — COVID-19 changes meal service; sites transition to take-out meals.
2021 — UCC building experiences frozen pipes and flooding, delaying reopening.
2022 — Meal sites reopen. UCC completes major renovations. Keep Us Warm restarts. Julie Gist becomes lead coordinator of Christmas Co-Op.
2022–2023 — Major renovations take place at the Food Shelf while continuing to serve the community.
Community Meals
Grace United Methodist Church
The Grace United Methodist Church community lunch began in the 1990s as a project for a group of young people. When they left the area, church members and community volunteers continued the meal.
Gloria Bakker coordinated the program for many years, and she and her team added a popular salad bar. At times, more than 100 meals were served in the church basement.
Food was donated by community members, the St. Johnsbury Academy culinary program, and White Market. The meals have always been free, with a donation jar available for those who wish to contribute.
After Gloria retired, other church and community volunteers continued the program. COVID-19 changed the meal to take-out service, which continued throughout the pandemic. The dining room reopened in April 2022.
Today, the meal continues with Lisa Wood as coordinator.
United Community Church
Several meal programs have been part of the history of what is now United Community Church.
A Friday lunch began at South Congregational Church in the 1990s and continued until October 2017, when South and North Congregational Churches combined to form United Community Church. The South Church building was donated to the St. Johnsbury Academy, whose culinary program continued the meal until COVID-19 brought the program to a close.
A Wednesday lunch began at North Congregational Church in the 1990s as an outreach project under Pastor Jay Sprout. Bob Cousins organized the program, and Kay Clifford served as kitchen manager. Both served faithfully for more than 20 years.
Louise Young later became chef and site coordinator, regularly serving 80–100 meals each Wednesday and nearly 200 at Thanksgiving. Food came from the St. Johnsbury Academy, Price Chopper, community donations, and the KCS Food Shelf.
The last pre-COVID meal was served March 26, 2020. The UCC building then experienced frozen pipes and flooding during the winter of 2021, delaying its reopening.
After two and a half years, the Wednesday Meal Site reopened on September 7, 2022, following extensive renovations to the kitchen and dining areas, including new flooring, electrical and water improvements, a new stove and grill, and fresh paint.
In November 2022, UCC also began the Friday Sandwich Stop, providing another Friday meal option, making use of donated food, and offering another warm and welcoming place for people to gather.
Holiday Meals
UCC hosts a community Thanksgiving meal and, in cooperation with Beth El Synagogue, a community Christmas meal. These gatherings bring together people who may be hungry, lonely, or simply looking for a place to share the holiday with others.
Universalist Unitarian Congregation
The Saturday Community Meal began at the Universalist Unitarian Congregation in December 2009.
Jean Metivier and Daisy McCoy worked together to collect food donations, recruit volunteers, publicize the meal, and prepare the food. Lyndon State College provided much of the food for many years.
Community members and local farms also contribute fresh produce, while the KCS Food Shelf supplements donated ingredients.
In 2019, the congregation completed a major kitchen renovation, including new flooring, electrical upgrades, a commercial dishwasher, three-bay sink, and plumbing improvements.
During COVID-19, the meal continued as take-out service. In-person dining resumed in July 2022.
The Grace United Methodist Church community lunch began in the 1990s as a project for a group of young people. When they left the area, church members and community volunteers continued the meal.
Gloria Bakker coordinated the program for many years, and she and her team added a popular salad bar. At times, more than 100 meals were served in the church basement.
Food was donated by community members, the St. Johnsbury Academy culinary program, and White Market. The meals have always been free, with a donation jar available for those who wish to contribute.
After Gloria retired, other church and community volunteers continued the program. COVID-19 changed the meal to take-out service, which continued throughout the pandemic. The dining room reopened in April 2022.
Today, the meal continues with Lisa Wood as coordinator.
United Community Church
Several meal programs have been part of the history of what is now United Community Church.
A Friday lunch began at South Congregational Church in the 1990s and continued until October 2017, when South and North Congregational Churches combined to form United Community Church. The South Church building was donated to the St. Johnsbury Academy, whose culinary program continued the meal until COVID-19 brought the program to a close.
A Wednesday lunch began at North Congregational Church in the 1990s as an outreach project under Pastor Jay Sprout. Bob Cousins organized the program, and Kay Clifford served as kitchen manager. Both served faithfully for more than 20 years.
Louise Young later became chef and site coordinator, regularly serving 80–100 meals each Wednesday and nearly 200 at Thanksgiving. Food came from the St. Johnsbury Academy, Price Chopper, community donations, and the KCS Food Shelf.
The last pre-COVID meal was served March 26, 2020. The UCC building then experienced frozen pipes and flooding during the winter of 2021, delaying its reopening.
After two and a half years, the Wednesday Meal Site reopened on September 7, 2022, following extensive renovations to the kitchen and dining areas, including new flooring, electrical and water improvements, a new stove and grill, and fresh paint.
In November 2022, UCC also began the Friday Sandwich Stop, providing another Friday meal option, making use of donated food, and offering another warm and welcoming place for people to gather.
Holiday Meals
UCC hosts a community Thanksgiving meal and, in cooperation with Beth El Synagogue, a community Christmas meal. These gatherings bring together people who may be hungry, lonely, or simply looking for a place to share the holiday with others.
Universalist Unitarian Congregation
The Saturday Community Meal began at the Universalist Unitarian Congregation in December 2009.
Jean Metivier and Daisy McCoy worked together to collect food donations, recruit volunteers, publicize the meal, and prepare the food. Lyndon State College provided much of the food for many years.
Community members and local farms also contribute fresh produce, while the KCS Food Shelf supplements donated ingredients.
In 2019, the congregation completed a major kitchen renovation, including new flooring, electrical upgrades, a commercial dishwasher, three-bay sink, and plumbing improvements.
During COVID-19, the meal continued as take-out service. In-person dining resumed in July 2022.
Food Shelf & Thrift Store
The KCS Food Shelf and Thrift Store were established to meet needs beyond the community meals, providing emergency food and clothing.
Under the guidance of Rev. Jay Sprout, North Congregational Church generously provided the use of a duplex, with KCS paying utilities and partial maintenance.
Ted and Fran Merchant managed the Food Shelf for many years before Ted retired due to poor health. Ellie Dole and her volunteers continued serving those who came to the door in need.
The Thrift Store closed in October 2019 following the retirement of longtime coordinator Sharon Heidemann. The Food Shelf then expanded to use the entire building.
During 2022 and 2023, the building underwent major renovations while the Food Shelf continued serving the community. Improvements included new windows, doors, flooring, basement and kitchen steps, foundation and basement support work, insulation, and other repairs. Air purifiers were also installed to improve air quality.
Under the guidance of Rev. Jay Sprout, North Congregational Church generously provided the use of a duplex, with KCS paying utilities and partial maintenance.
Ted and Fran Merchant managed the Food Shelf for many years before Ted retired due to poor health. Ellie Dole and her volunteers continued serving those who came to the door in need.
The Thrift Store closed in October 2019 following the retirement of longtime coordinator Sharon Heidemann. The Food Shelf then expanded to use the entire building.
During 2022 and 2023, the building underwent major renovations while the Food Shelf continued serving the community. Improvements included new windows, doors, flooring, basement and kitchen steps, foundation and basement support work, insulation, and other repairs. Air purifiers were also installed to improve air quality.
Co-Op Christmas & Keep Us Warm
Co-Op ChristmasKCS took over the Co-Op Christmas program in the late 1990s after it was discontinued by NECKA's Outreach program.
The program provides Christmas gifts to older adults, people with disabilities, and teenagers who are not covered by other holiday assistance programs and might otherwise receive no gifts.
Ramona Letourneau led the program through NECKA in the 1990s and became the KCS coordinator in 2000.
In 2022, Julie Gist became lead coordinator, with Ramona continuing as assistant. Julie and her daughters had volunteered with the program the previous year and decided to continue its tradition. Keep Us WarmFor many years, Keep Us Warm provided coats and winter boots, particularly for children at the St. Johnsbury School. The program also distributed donated blankets and sheets.
In 2022, Ellie Dole restarted the program through the Food Shelf, collecting clean, gently used winter coats and blankets and distributing them to people in need.
The program provides Christmas gifts to older adults, people with disabilities, and teenagers who are not covered by other holiday assistance programs and might otherwise receive no gifts.
Ramona Letourneau led the program through NECKA in the 1990s and became the KCS coordinator in 2000.
In 2022, Julie Gist became lead coordinator, with Ramona continuing as assistant. Julie and her daughters had volunteered with the program the previous year and decided to continue its tradition. Keep Us WarmFor many years, Keep Us Warm provided coats and winter boots, particularly for children at the St. Johnsbury School. The program also distributed donated blankets and sheets.
In 2022, Ellie Dole restarted the program through the Food Shelf, collecting clean, gently used winter coats and blankets and distributing them to people in need.
A Community Tradition
For decades, KCS has grown and changed in response to the needs of the community. Programs have evolved, buildings have been renovated, and leadership has changed, but the commitment to helping our neighbors has remained.
