Finding new use for empty church kitchens
Rev. Chelsea Spyres, Pastor of Riverfront Ministries and Executive Director of the Wilmington Kitchen Collective
In early June, the Invested Faith team and Good Faith Media visited Fellow Chelsea Spyres of Riverfront Ministries and the Wilmington Kitchen Collective. The WKC serves food industry entrepreneurs from marginalized local communities by offering commercial kitchen space found in churches. It's a win-win for the church and the entrepreneurs.
New cooks and bakers, caterers, and food truck operators find that access to commercial kitchen space is difficult to find – not to mention prohibitively expensive. This struggle often stops these budding entrepreneurs before their business even has a chance to launch. The WKC offers affordable licensed kitchen space to help make it possible for new businesses to get started… and to succeed.
The Collective now offers commercial kitchen space in 3 churches in the Wilmington area with a fourth opening soon; and yet still has a long waiting list of entrepreneurs. Along with kitchen space, the WKC also offers these start-up entrepreneurs business mentoring and assistance in navigating the licensure and certification requirements.
Lance Williams of Rhythm + Heat with Rev. Chelsea Spyres of the WKC
During our short visit, we met four entrepreneurs who regularly used the kitchens and who spoke of the benefits of the having the space. Lance Williams of Rhythm + Heat, a spice and seasoning company, values not only the availability of the kitchen, but the friendship of the other entrepreneurs he has met through the collective.
Joanne Graves of Gravesyard Apiary uses the kitchen to craft with electuaries; raw honey blends with organic herbs and spices.
Monet Anise of Monet Anise Catering uses the WKC kitchens to prep for offsite catering jobs.
Baker Erin Garcia of Erin’s Sweet Side bakes cookies and other goodies to be sold at Brew Haha! Cafe, a local coffee shop.
Each Tuesday, the entrepreneurs from the Collective host a lunch time food market at Grace Methodist Church in Wilmington, one of the host kitchen churches. Our team filled up on so much good food! Thanks to all the great entrepreneurs who shared with us their stories, and their delicious food!
Anita Flowers of Invested Faith and Cliff Vaughn of Good Faith Media with Rev. Chelsea Spyres at the Tuesday Food Market in June.
Read more about the Wilmington Kitchen Collective here.
