A HEART for the HUNGRY

COEUR d'ALENE — Sandy Mamola gave folks hope for 32 years at Coeur d'Alene's longest-surviving soup kitchen at St. Pius X Catholic Church.

Friday was her final meal with her team of volunteers, including some who have been by her side the entire time.

"I believe I've needed this as much as the people I've served," she said while taking a break before the dinner. "I'm not special in any way, but I'm determined. I didn't want to let anybody down.

"We're called simply to love one another. If you follow that motto, everything else you do will work out. The minute you stop caring, your life can crumble."

Mamola, 72, said it's simply time to step away. She and husband Gary's son Jeff died two months ago of Lou Gehrig's Disease. Jeff was 53.

"This kitchen saved us from a complete meltdown during that time," she said. "We always had this on Fridays, and it was important that we did this."

The kitchen serves between 30 and 80 each week depending on the time of year. It has never been in jeopardy of closing, thanks to generous donations.

"It just seems like that, when you are doing something that's right, it will succeed," she said. "There were times I'd come in on Friday with nothing made and no idea what I was going to do. But every time it just happened."

Sandy said the soup kitchen has always been held on Fridays to help get the hungry through the weekend.

Steve Callaghan, among those served Friday, said Sandy's heart for those in need will always be remembered.

"She'll stick up for anybody, especially the underdogs," he said.

Another attendee named Walt said he was homeless when he came to the soup kitchen when it first opened. He's eaten at the soup kitchen again lately to stretch his food budget.

"They treat you right here," he said.

Friday also marked the final day at the kitchen for two volunteers who have been by Sandy's side since the first meal in August 1987 — husband Gary and friend Kathy Montgomery.

"Sandy is the boss," Gary said with a smile. "She is what drove the soup kitchen, and I supported her."

The soup kitchen grew out of a church study group the trio were involved with. They supplied the food themselves at first, including beef Gary and Sandy raised, before the effort became a ministry at the church.

"We got tired of talking and decided to take action," Gary said. "We were all surprised how easy it was once we started into it. I remember being so nervous at first that my hand would shake as I handed out milk."

Sandy said her calling to start the soup kitchen originated when her mother set a soup pot in the back of her seat to be ready to help those in need.

"My excuses did not stop my mom from putting a soup pot in the back seat of my car and telling me to 'feed the hungry,'" she said.

Sandy said she commented that someone in Coeur d'Alene should operate a soup kitchen like her mom did for 23 years in Costa Mesa, Calif. That soup kitchen still exists today.

"Don't talk about it, do it," Sandy remembers hearing her mother say to her.

Sandy said her mom was deaf, had multiple bouts of cancer and was in a wheelchair, but continued her unwavering efforts to serve.

"It's in my genes," Sandy said.

She said that being in a family of eight children, she grew up on a thin budget.

"We learned how to cook with a little," she said.

Sandy said the soup kitchen serves those from all backgrounds and faiths.

"Everybody is welcome," she said. "It's a difficult thing to come to a soup kitchen, psychologically and socially, and we do our best to treat them with respect."

Sandy said the kitchen's volunteers have always come through.

She said the first Christmas she thought Montgomery was going to take care of bringing mitten gifts to the dinner; Kathy thought Sandy had that covered.

But someone else, not even knowing about the mixup, brought 12 pairs of mittens.

"And we had 12 children that we were able to give gifts to," Sandy said. "That's when you know you're on the right track."

Sandy's legacy extends beyond the soup kitchen. She assisted those in need with the late Lidwina Dirne, founder of Dirne Community Health Center that's now Heritage Health.

The parish's council and staff will continue to run the soup kitchen until someone takes the ministry over.

Sandy said meals have been a way to change lives, get to know others and hear stories.

"It's been a great place to mentor," she said. "We have been blessed to share a part of many of these people's lives, to see their children grow up, get jobs and have their own families."