A Norwood soup kitchen has been serving up hope along with free, hot meals for the needy for 18 years.

St. Stephen?s Soup Kitchen operates in the basement of Epiphany Lutheran Church at 206th Street near Bainbridge Avenue. The director at St. Stephen?s says his staff has an open-door policy. The recipients say the meals are a matter of life and death since many of them are homeless, elderly or ill.

St. Stephen?s is only open Monday through Wednesday and Friday. The director is seeking federal grant money to expand the program, which is currently funded through the United Way.