Granny’s kitchen: A legacy unfettered

Madison Goins, echoing his late mother, saved her legacy.

The soup kitchen lives on, free of government entanglement.

The word that the troubled ministry would continue is welcome. The fact that it will do so without a donation from the Monroe City Council spares the community another squabble. We owe both to Madison Goins.

Thousands of people throughout northeastern Louisiana have passed through the doors of the soup kitchen founded by Lillie Bell “Granny” Goins.

She and her husband, Farmer, began their charity outreach by preparing meals at their home and serving from the trunk of their car along DeSiard Street. This lasted eight years until the operations were moved to its present location inside a home on Plum Street. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday the kitchen feeds the homeless. Almost 100 people are served each day of operation.

Goins died in 2003. Before her death, Goins qualified to receive Community Development Block Grant Funds from the city of Monroe, but she declined that assistance, saying she wanted the kitchen to be supported by the community.

In the 12 years since her death, the community has done just that, but daughter Gladys Goins who now operates the kitchen, announced it may have to shut its doors by September if the organization doesn’t find assistance to pay the increasing cost of utilities.

That’s where the City Council comes in. Monroe Council Chairwoman Betty Blakes proposed allocating $20,000 to the kitchen.

While the intent was noble, Blakes’ proposal set up another potential standoff with Mayor Jamie Mayo, who said the request was done inappropriately because it was not discussed with the administration before being placed on the agenda. The expense was not budgeted nor was the organization eligible to receive funds from the administration’s economic development fund.

The citizens of Monroe were spared that fight when Madison Goins announced he would pick up any additional cost to keep the kitchen running. Also, in the spirit of his late mother, who never wanted any governmental assistance to run her program, he refused to accept any city money.

Mayo plans to make a personal contribution, and he encourages other elected officials and community members to do the same.

The involvement of government in nonprofits has the potential to rob the organization of its independence and ability to react quickly to changing needs. We applaud the Goins family for rejecting the council’s proposed donation, which we believe was well-intended, and working to keep the kitchen operating. The community owes the family its thanks.

The editorials in this column represent the opinions of The News-Star’s editorial board, composed of General Manager and Executive Editor Kathy Spurlock, Engagement and Community Content Editor Hope Young, Watchdog and Content Coach Mark Henderson and Business and Politics Reporter Greg Hilburn.