A Knight nourishes those in need every night

SALT LAKE CITY – Every night from Nov. 1 to March 13, Michael Zdunich loads his truck with a big pot of soup and bottled water, then parks it on a downtown street, where a line of about 120 people is already waiting for him.

"We love his soup. It really tastes good," said Homer, a homeless man who, in the winter, is always there for a serving of soup.

For the past five years Zdunich has served the homeless and needy ones, even when he himself has suffered because of the economy.

Zdunich starts preparing the soup every day around 5 p.m. to have it ready by 8; it has become part of his daily life. "I give them a really nutritious soup, sometimes it is chicken noodle soup or chicken rice and sometimes I make a special one, such as chicken pozole," Zdunich said. "Even though sometimes it is hard, I know those people are waiting for their soup, so I do it and it really gives me joy."

He wishes people would realize that when you help those in need you are not enabling them, you are giving them hope, he said.

At the end of soup season, which is March 13, Zdunich prepares a special gift for all his "customers," and includes a little message.

Mary, another homeless person who every night is in line for the soup, was especially delighted when she knew she was having the pozole. "Just knowing what I am going to eat makes me more hungry," said Mary, laughing. "I really appreciate that guy [Zdunich]; he cares for us."

Of the people he serves, "90 percent have mental diseases or have drugs or alcohol issues, but the other small percentage have lost their jobs, lost their homes and those are the ones that just need a chance to get back into society," said Zdunich.

Zdunich has founded a domestic foundation called Feed my Lambs Salt Lake City with which he hopes to create a soup kitchen that will target single mothers. He also is working to create a small ranch where people can grow organic vegetables and fruits.

"Unfortunately most of those people can’t get out of these situations; I want to give them a chance," said Zdunich.

As a third degree Knight of Columbus from Payson, Zdunich is always thinking how he can do something to help the most needy ones, he likes to pray a lot and it’s his faith that keeps him going.

"Wouldn’t it be a different philosophy if, instead of thinking ‘How much money did I make today?’ asking ‘How many good things have we done today?’" said Zdunich. "Sometimes people need a hand up, not a hand out, and if we can do that, why not?"