An encouraging Mary’s Kitchen update from Pastor James:
After Judge David O. Carter granted a temporary restraining order, the City of Orange will be unable to shut down Mary’s Kitchen as they had planned. Judge Carter has a heart for those in need in the community and has historically treated the disadvantaged with kindness, especially while he presided over cases regarding the homeless encampments along the Santa Ana River.
Judge Carter said:
“Without a temporary restraining order, Mary’s Kitchen will be shut down on Sept. 18, 2021 after 36 years of offering services to individuals impacted by homelessness,” Carter said in his decision. “The organization will lose its physical location and tens of thousands of dollars of infrastructure investments. In addition, the individual plaintiffs allege that they rely on Mary’s Kitchen for food, daily hygiene and medical services. Without Mary’s Kitchen, the individual plaintiffs will likely suffer substantial hardship to obtain these services. These dangers are compounded as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.”
The restraining order will be in effect until September 30, after which there will be a hearing for a preliminary injunction.
Mary’s Kitchen has been serving those experiencing homelessness and the disadvantaged community in Orange since the 1980s, and has occupied their current location since 1994. Currently, Mary’s Kitchen is the only resource center for the homeless in Orange, so their outreach and provision is necessary.
Other support has been garnered from the community, with an online petition to save Mary’s Kitchen gathering over 8,000 signatures. State Sen. Dave Min and Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva have also come to the defense of the nonprofit. As Mary’s Kitchen fights for their existence in Orange, we will continue to keep you updated and keep all those involved in our prayers.
If you would like to read more about Mary’s Kitchen and the current situation, please click here.
