Homelessness and hunger are big-city problems. The trouble is, they”re small-town problems, too.
On Tuesday, Taylor B. Smith, an attorney at the Kullman Firm, talked about what he and others are doing about it. He addressed a full dining room at the Rotary Club”s weekly meeting at the Columbus Country Club and explained the method and mentality behind Lowndes County”s community soup kitchen, Loaves and Fishes.
The kitchen, located at 322 22nd Street N., is a cooperative organization of nearly 20 churches that serve the hungry and the homeless on Mondays and Fridays. One church signs up for a particular day, prepares the food and furnishes the help to distribute it.
Smith and a few community-minded friends got the concept to provide edible aid after seeing a similar organization in Tupelo. They decided to bring the idea back to Columbus and, after visiting the Salvation Army and other charities to compare notes, founded the soup kitchen about two years ago.
“Two years seems like a long time, but when you understand that this started with a thought and a few people having lunch, we”ve really come a long way,” Smith told the Rotary members. “But we cannot go further without additional help.”
The kitchen serves about 200 to 275 people twice a week, depending on the season. It sustains about $1,200 in monthly expenses from rent, insurance and utilities to forks, knives and condiments. Moreover, the charity is funded privately.
“We have no government involvement simply because we want no government interference with how we run this ministry,” Smith said.
In the future, the organization hopes to provide meals much more often.
“Our goal is to serve five days a week and sooner or later have a small, paid staff,” Smith said. “Our time table revolves around more organizations, and quite frankly, more money.”
Smith said he is often asked about the motivation behind giving food away.
“For those who are not so religiously inclined, we do it because we think it”s the right thing to do,” he said. “I also think Scripture and Biblical teaching mandate us to.”
He referenced the Biblical parable about the Good Samaritan.
“All of these people we attempt to feed are our neighbors,” Smith said. “We do it for the man who walks in the door with crutches and the little girls who aren”t getting enough to eat.”
The speech was well-received by the Rotary Club.
“In any community there are people who have a need, particularly with jobs and the economy being the way it is,” said John Ford Jr. “It can help fill a gap for people.”
John Brady, Rotary Club president, agreed and praised the unique skills demonstrated by the administration of Loaves and Fishes.
“There are a lot of people out there that have big hearts, but they don”t have the organizational or people skills to make it work. I think they”ve got those.”
Smith closed by encouraging community members to help out by volunteering or donating money and food.
“We have a long way to go,” he said. “God willing, we”re going to get there.”
To help out or ask questions, call 662-386-2839 or 662-251-4916.
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