LEWISTON — The kitchen is back, and just in time for turkey.

Hope Haven Gospel Mission, the city’s largest shelter, went without hot meals all summer after an unexpected renovation: Its old, tired equipment had been given away in May to make way for a whole-kitchen donation that, when it arrived, didn’t have a compatible electrical system.

An anonymous donor gave roughly $18,000 for new equipment and installation. More people in the community chipped in another $7,000. But, rebuilding took time.

“After five and a half months the last month was probably the most stressful,” Executive Director John Robbins said. “When things stretched into October I began to wonder just how close it would be.”

Two weeks ago, everything was set. Meals started back up six nights a week.

“Within three or four days we were serving normally, over 50 meals an evening,” he said. “A few meals we’ve served upwards of 60.”

Everything in the kitchen except two long cutting tables and shelving is new or new to them, Robbins said. A fryolator, three-bowl sink and stainless range with two ovens, burners and a griddle are from St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center. A six-burner gas range came from a local man whose kids were grown; there weren’t as many people at home to cook for. A hood and exhaust vent system, convection oven and garbage disposal are new. An electrical contractor donated his time to wire it all in.

It replaces equipment that was broken or failing or not the right fit.

“The space is better,” relief cook Bill Miller said. “It’s kind of hard to bake something in a pizza oven you’re supposed to be cooking pizza in,” but, they’d made it work.

Robbins said he was able to stretch donations to buy some like-to-haves, like two coffee stations, one cold drink dispenser with a refrigerated base and a stainless steel serving cart with five wells to keep food warm. Unlike the one it’s replacing, this cart has a sneeze barrier, he said, and it’s not rusty. He found it on eBay. New they sell for $3,000. He bought it for $1,200, which included shipping from Texas.

“I’m considered stingy,” Robbins said. “It’s not our money so I think using other people’s money, the wisest thing to do is use it wisely.”

He still isn’t sure who the generous anonymous donor is. He or she relayed the money through an associate. Robbins never pushed to know.

“We are very thankful, very, very grateful,” he said.

Cooking for Thanksgiving started Tuesday with more than 25 turkeys. Miller and another cook will rise at 4:30 a.m. Thursday to prep 200 pounds of potatoes, several gallons of gravy and fixings. All the food for the meal has been donated, Robbins said.

The shelter expects to host about 100 for a free dinner between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. A fleet of volunteers will plate and deliver about 150 more meals to people who can’t make it in.

Sally Manson, a longtime volunteer from Lewiston who works the shelter’s donation area with housewares and clothes, said she’s heard a number of people say they were relieved when the kitchen reopened.

“There was one couple I know that didn’t even have a stove to cook on — they came in here to get bread,” Manson said. She’s not sure everyone knows hot meals are back. “I tell people, spread the word.”

On Monday, the shelter opens the sign-up sheet for its annual Christmas toy giveaway.

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