By Staff
HOT MEAL n Mark Boyd, left, and Bennie Gray, both of Meridian, enjoy a meal at LOVE's Kitchen. Staff members and volunteers feed 300-325 people daily; they need food and cash donations for the upcoming holiday season. Photo by Sherie Bradford/The Meridian Star
By Sheila Blackmon/The Meridian Star
Nov. 19, 2001
Thanksgiving wouldn't be the same without turkey, cranberry sauce and sweet potato pie.
And without LOVE's Kitchen, many people in Meridian and Lauderdale County wouldn't have those tasty traditions.
Staff and volunteers at LOVE's Kitchen, which stands for Lauderdale Outreach and Volunteer Effort, feed 300-325 people daily. And kitchen supervisor Gladys Ridgeway said they need food and monetary donations for the holiday season.
The staff needs turkeys, hams, canned goods, cakes, pies, cookies and other desserts. Food donations are needed by Tuesday for the Thanksgiving meal and by the week before Christmas for the Christmas meal.
Nita Neville, publicist and fund-raiser for the LOVE's Kitchen board of directors, said her husband, the late Judge Billy Neville, started LOVE's Kitchen in 1982. The staff began serving meals in April 1983 and served 40,000 meals in the first nine months.
LOVE's is funded by churches, grants and individuals. Staff and volunteers feed people at LOVE's Kitchen and at shelters, prepare lunches for pick up and deliver food to the home-bound.
They feed children in the summer who may not otherwise have lunch when school is out.
Sheila Blackmon is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. Call her at 693-1551, ext. 3275, or e-mail her at sblackmon@themeridianstar.com.
Here is a look at LOVE's Kitchen and information about how you can help it provide meals for the needy.
LOVE's Kitchen:
The hours: Open Monday-Saturday 7 a.m.-1 p.m., with breakfast served 8 a.m.-9 a.m. and lunch served noon-1 p.m. Closed on Sunday.
The needs: Cash, turkeys, hams, canned goods, cakes, pies, cookies and other desserts. Food needed by Tuesday for Thanksgiving meal.
The donations: Deliver donations to LOVE's Kitchen,1914 18th Ave; meats should be cooked if possible or delivered early so LOVE's staff can prepare them.