There’s a new food service in town, dishing up chicken and dumplings or beef stew and rice.
And the three-course meals at this establishment don’t cost patrons a penny. But you can’t really call it good news.
The Manna House soup kitchen opened last week.
The Rev. Katrina Deason, director of the food, clothing and household goods clearinghouse, said she and the Manna House board members saw a need for a prepared meal service in the city and decided their organization should try to meet it.
“Many times we we’ll give out a grocery bag to try and help feed someone and they will inform us that they don’t have electricity or that they are homeless,” Deason said. “We’re the food people, so we figured the lot must have fallen on us.”
From 4:30 to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, consumers can get a full-course meal in exchange for their signature at the Liberty Prayer Chapel Fellowship Hall, at 244 Memorial Dr.
“Last night we had 16 people show up,” cook Leinell Glenn said. “The word is getting out and people are coming.”
To be prepared for the crowd, Glenn said she prepares enough to feed 50 people.
The items cooked are usually meats, vegetables and non-perishable items donated to the organization by Kroger and Food Lion, according to Glenn.
“Today we’re having spaghetti, a vegetable and garlic bread,” she said. “After that they can have fruit or cake.”
Deason blames the floundering economy for making the need for the kitchen much greater in the area than it has been in the past.
“We have a situation where people don’t have a place to sleep, let alone a place to eat,” she said. “Those numbers have been mounting and we expect them to increase.”
Soon, Deason said, the kitchen will reach its maximum occupancy.
“Eventually, we’re thinking that we might have to give out tickets during the Manna House’s normal business hours,” she said.
Until then, she hopes that those in need will continue to come and get what they need, “a home-cooked meal.”
Hinesville’s Westside Baptist Church has also run a soup kitchen in recent years, but has scaled it back to Saturday’s when sandwiches and
soup are served from 5-7 p.m.
And the three-course meals at this establishment don’t cost patrons a penny. But you can’t really call it good news.
The Manna House soup kitchen opened last week.
The Rev. Katrina Deason, director of the food, clothing and household goods clearinghouse, said she and the Manna House board members saw a need for a prepared meal service in the city and decided their organization should try to meet it.
“Many times we we’ll give out a grocery bag to try and help feed someone and they will inform us that they don’t have electricity or that they are homeless,” Deason said. “We’re the food people, so we figured the lot must have fallen on us.”
From 4:30 to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, consumers can get a full-course meal in exchange for their signature at the Liberty Prayer Chapel Fellowship Hall, at 244 Memorial Dr.
“Last night we had 16 people show up,” cook Leinell Glenn said. “The word is getting out and people are coming.”
To be prepared for the crowd, Glenn said she prepares enough to feed 50 people.
The items cooked are usually meats, vegetables and non-perishable items donated to the organization by Kroger and Food Lion, according to Glenn.
“Today we’re having spaghetti, a vegetable and garlic bread,” she said. “After that they can have fruit or cake.”
Deason blames the floundering economy for making the need for the kitchen much greater in the area than it has been in the past.
“We have a situation where people don’t have a place to sleep, let alone a place to eat,” she said. “Those numbers have been mounting and we expect them to increase.”
Soon, Deason said, the kitchen will reach its maximum occupancy.
“Eventually, we’re thinking that we might have to give out tickets during the Manna House’s normal business hours,” she said.
Until then, she hopes that those in need will continue to come and get what they need, “a home-cooked meal.”
Hinesville’s Westside Baptist Church has also run a soup kitchen in recent years, but has scaled it back to Saturday’s when sandwiches and
soup are served from 5-7 p.m.