“I don’t know if this is that big of a deal – I am just doing what I love to do – feed people,” Kim Matsil told The Chronicle. She has been preparing free kosher-style food for those in need.
When COVID-19 hit her calendar was booked with multiple Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, dinners, a women’s seder, a Torah fund luncheon, a breakfast and another luncheon. “Everything was canceled,” she said.
Matsil is a local caterer. She has worked with the Vaad of Kansas City in the past. Many in the KC Jewish Community know and love her food.
“I put a good amount of the items I purchased back in my stock closet, but I had a great deal of fresh items that needed to be used and a lot of frozen items that I didn’t want to leave in the freezer. After a sleepless night, I decided to start cooking what I could and I put a post on Facebook asking who couldn’t leave their home and needed food,” she said.
Matsil heard from friends who could not reach their parents and added friends who she knew should not leave their homes to her list. Then she got cooking. She delivered a meal to everyone on her list by the end of the day. “I had such a good time and I knew I was helping people. It has also helped me. It keeps me busy – I will keep going as long as I can. I plan to deliver Passover dinners also,” Matsil said.
She is using kosher meats and ingredients, but does not have a kosher kitchen. “I am doing the best I can do. The individuals I am helping are happy with these conditions,” she said.
Matsil said, “I don’t think I can put into words how I feel about my business. I know this will pass – things will be different and it take time before people are comfortable in large groups. It has taken me 12 years to grow my business is KC – who knows how long it will take to bounce back after Coronavirus!”
“I will do what I can with the resources I have,” Matsil wrote on Facebook. To support and contribute to her efforts, you can Vemno at Kim-Matsil.