Opening The Vault helps hungry people

Without soup kitchens, Mike Anuszkiewicc's life would be much more difficult.

Anuszkiewicc, 55, of Port Huron, eases his hunger by stopping at a local soup kitchen four times a week.

Last night, he tried something new.

Chelsea Branch and husband, James, owners of The Vault in Port Huron, had a free chili dinner Thursday night with cornbread, drinks and their famous crisped rice treats.

They were prepared for 100 people — four showed up.

"This was our trial, and we would have been happy even if just one person showed up. Every person that came tonight was so grateful," James Branch said.

All four people and the Branches sat down together and chatted like the night was a family gathering.

Bill Kronner, 67, of Port Huron, enjoyed the community atmosphere.

"This is much friendlier than eating at a soup kitchen," Kronner said. "Everybody likes to eat with somebody. It's easy to bond over food."

Kronner said where he lives, many people survive on hot dogs and ham.

"Everyone could use a couple extra dollars," he said. "Things like this are needed in our community. My neighborhoods eat hot dogs and ham every day, year after year, because that's all they can afford."

Aside from being filled with chili, everyone bonded in the warm atmosphere.

"I wanted to be able to give something back to people," Chelsea Branch said. "It started a few years ago when my girlfriend and I packed lunches, set up a table in a parking lot and handed them out."

The duo would get five to 40 people who stopped by once a month.

"People would stay and chat and we built a lot of relationships," she said. "We would give people a card so they could call us if they ever needed groceries."

From there, the Branches contemplated taking advantage of their available space at The Vault and open it up for a similar monthly community dinner — so they decided to try it out.

"Our goal is to make this a monthly event," James Branch said. "We are hoping word spreads and the dinner grows. If we get 20 to 30 people on a regular basis we will outgrow this place and move the dinner to someplace larger."

As each person left, Chelsea Branch ran to fill a bag with food to go and urged them to not forget dessert.

The community chili dinner will be at 5 p.m. on the last Thursday of each month at The Vault, 902 Military St., Port Huron.

Contact Nicole Hayden at (810) 989-6279 or nhayden@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @NicoleHayden_TH.

IF YOU GO

COMMUNITY CHILI DINNER

• The community chili dinner is at 5 p.m. on the last Thursday of each month at The Vault, 902 Military St., Port Huron.

• For more information or to donate call (810) 987-6455