New Apache Junction soup kitchen site a concern for neighbor

By Richard Dyer
Mail | X: @RHDyer

The Genesis Project’s plan to move its soup kitchen feeding, clothing and hydrating the hungry and homeless to Epiphany Lutheran Church in Apache Junction drew residents speaking out for and against the effort during a recent city council meeting.

Mayor Chip Wilson said prior to the consent agenda being approved during an Oct. 1 meeting that several residents had contacted the city and he asked who had attended to speak about the nonprofit.

“Before we get started this meeting, in response to Facebook posts and communications that I have and the council have received, I’d like to ask a show of hands of how many people here tonight want to speak on the Genesis. Three; OK. Alright good; thank you,” he said.

The faith-based nonprofit Genesis Project was notified via a July 31 letter affixed to the front door the property owner had decided to not renew its lease at 564 N. Idaho Road and the organization needs to vacate by 5 p.m. Oct. 31.

Since then the organization has secured its new location at the church, 1050 W. Superstition Blvd.

During the call to the public section at the end of the council’s Oct. 1 meeting, four residents spoke about Genesis Project.

Candace O’Dell stated her concerns with the relocation of Genesis Project to her neighborhood.

“I have concerns with the placement of Project Genesis inside the Lutheran church within approximately 1,000 feet of my home and neighborhood. I’m concerned with what I believe to be an undue burden on my neighborhood as we already have a church distributing food boxes once a week on our street,” she said.

With Genesis Project there will be increased vehicle and foot traffic for approximately 150 to 200 meals each of the six days that it is open, O’Dell said.

“(H)ow are we going to get the patrons to leave? There is no incentive for them to. When they are open six days a week, what’s the motive to get these people to leave and stop them from setting up camps in the surrounding area? There are at last two empty fields right there, perfect for campsites,” she said. “So I feel I am being faced with a potential tent city.”

While it may not have been legally required for the city or council to notify the neighborhood of the soup kitchen going in, they should have, O’Dell said.

Catherine Meek, who said she is involved in a small food pantry, said food insecurity is a growing issue.

“The need is out there. The need is desperate. A lot of our seniors are facing the choice of being able to able to pay for their utilities, their rent, food, maybe some medication they need. And a lot of times the medication and the food are the last that they can cover,” she said.

“I know Genesis has some different statistics and whatnot. The majority of their people who come in for food every day are seniors — housing-insecure seniors. They’re just trying to find out how to get the next meal and still have a roof over their heads,” Meek said. “I don’t want to see anybody go hungry that really just needs a little bit of help.”

Andre Meek asked the city to stop any illegal activity around Genesis Project that could affect the residents in that area.

“‘Not in my backyard.’ Hear that a lot. There are real concerns about people that go to Genesis that may cause problems or whatever but that doesn’t take away from the fact that they are really needed. I mean, they give out food, they give out clothes, they’re tons of people who need the help,” he said.

“If we have to assign an officer for that area while they get started and going, something like that to keep the problems down, needs to happen. If code enforcement needs to move out a motor home that’s parked there illegally or a camper or whatever, it needs to happen immediately to keep Genesis going because where Genesis was didn’t affect residents. Now it’s going to affect residents more near the church and everything like that,” Meek said.

Donna Carr said several mental health facilities are in her neighborhood.

“As far as this Genesis thing, my neighborhood’s already getting ruined because I’m going to have in 1,000 feet in one direction a three-story mental-health place and about 1,200 feet in the other direction I’m going to have (a) building over there and they’ve got all the mental-health people around me that I can handle. And I understand what she’s saying,” Carr said, pointing to Candace O’Dell. “Because it would be different if it was near your house and how it would affect you and I just think it is wrong to destroy another neighborhood like you did mine.”

Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.

Richard Dyer
Managing Editor | East Valley

rdyer@iniusa.org

Meet Richard
Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.  

Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions. 

Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.

Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.

Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.