By Jenny Harnish
The Real WV, www.therealwv.com
Kimberly and Kenneth Eggleston are both retired and on disability. They receive food stamps, but Kimberly says they’re often not enough. Once a month, the couple drives from Monroe County to Edgewood Presbyterian Church in Lewisburg to pick up a free meal for themselves and other family members.
“We really appreciate it – it’s God’s work,” Kimberly said.
Now in its sixth year, the “Saturday of Service” food ministry provides meals to people who live in low-income facilities, people who are homebound and can’t cook, and anyone else who needs a meal.
“The first month of our first year, we served 90, and we really thought we were hot stuff,” said Pam Harders, who helps run the program. “Today, we’re planning on 950, so that’s how much it’s grown in six years.”
Since the program’s inception, the church has served 36,860 meals. The meal drive is on the third Saturday of every month. Last Saturday, around 35 volunteers showed up to assist in cooking, packaging, directing traffic, and delivering meals. The drive-through model allows people to pull up to the church in their vehicles, and have meals handed to them. Volunteer drivers pack, load, and deliver hundreds of meals to those who can’t make it.
“We have 631 deliveries today,” Harders said. She said if someone wants a meal delivered, they can call the church and leave a message, and she will get back to them. “I need a phone number, where they live, and how many meals they need. We don’t ask for any sort of income status – if you need a meal, we’ll get you a meal.”
Saturday’s menu consisted of fried pork loin with gravy, green beans, coleslaw, rolls, and a peanut butter egg. Volunteers cooked in the kitchen while others packaged the meals in to-go containers. The food is largely purchased with money from grants, donations from individuals and groups, and donations from local grocery stores.
“I think everyone who comes here and serves leaves with a smile on their hearts knowing that what they have done is to serve the Lord,” said Harders. She said their mission statement is “Living Matthew 25, feeding the hungry, serving with love.”
“I think there are several churches that are now doing this on a regular basis, and I think it’s a wonderful thing that this idea is spreading in the community – that means we’re helping a lot more people,” Harders said.
“With the price of food and the economy, some people are choosing whether to buy their medications or to buy food – and now whether to buy gas or not.
