Chamber's kitchen project moves forward

The Community Center kitchen project of the Odessa Chamber of Commerce has been moving forward throughout the winter months. The plumbing work has been completed, and the outside structure has been rebuilt to accommodate the new, expanded kitchen area.

The next step will be to pour concrete in the new area and in those areas disrupted by installation of the plumbing equipment. When that is complete, the walk-in cooler will be moved, interior walls will be built and the electrical wiring will be installed.

Purchasing and installing the kitchen equipment will then be the next major task. Lindsy Starkel, chairman of the Chamber project, is working to purchase a used commercial oven, among other needed items.

A spaghetti feed fundraiser will be held Tuesday, March 5, at the school cafeteria to raise the money needed to purchase two three-bowl commercial sinks and the fixtures needed for the new kitchen. The estimated cost for them is $2200. The goal is to have the kitchen functional for the Winetasting event of the Odessa Healthcare Foundation in May and to have the first phase of the project completed in July, just in time to start Deutsches Fest food preparations.

The second phase of the project will involve installation of a ventilation system in order for the kitchen to be approved for commercial cooking purposes. Starkel has been working with several agencies, trying to secure grant funding to assist the Chamber with the cost.

The spaghetti-feed fundraiser will be dedicated soley to the kitchen project. Citizens can help in the fundraising efforts by attending the spaghetti feed in the school cafeteria, or calling for delivery. Take-out is also available.