Elgin Jones Kids’ Kitchen Founder Dies at Age 79

Elgin Jones, the director of the non-profit charity Kids’ Kitchen in Anchorage, Alaska died on Feb. 27, 2019. He was 79 years old.

Deatrice Swazer, the treasurer of Kids’ Kitchen and Jones’ friend, announced the news.

Swazer said for several weeks Jones felt ill. On the afternoon of Feb. 27, he collapsed while at home and was brought to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

In 1996 Jones said he had a dream where God came to him and told him he had a mission in life, and that mission was to feed children. Jones started “Kids’ Kitchen” and called himself its “father and founder.”

He started serving food free to children in 1996 at the Mountain View Recreation Center. The following year he moved the program to Fairview Recreation Center in 1997. It remained there ever since.

Over the past 23 years, Jones estimates that “Kids’ Kitchen” has served over a million meals to children for free.

Swazer reported that that the non-profits’ organization’s board of directions will decide what direction the program will go in, and who will take Jones’ place. He stressed the mission would not be stopped despite Jones’ death, and meals will be served on Wednesday and Thursday at the Fairview Recreation Center. She also said plans for a memorial service for Jones are still being worked on and will be announced.

Written by Barbara Sobel

Sources:

KTVA: Kids’ Kitchen founder Elgin Jones dies at 79

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