Feeding Hope is now in its new building and the organization served supper Easter evening.
The first meal served there was on April 6 and the last meal served at Keithley Park was on April 3. Feeding Hope is now serving a free meal from 5-6 p.m. Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The organization, previously called Families Feeding Families, has been providing meals to the community since 2004 and the work to complete their building at 424 E. Florida St. has been an ongoing project for years. The organization says that the change has has brought more than just walls and tables. Serving indoors will give Feeding Hope the opportunity to sit with guests and build relationships and let them know they are seen, valued and never alone.
“At Feeding Hope, when someone comes for a meal, they may think they’re just being fed — but with every plate, we’re planting seeds of dignity, hope, and a brighter future,” Keri Gowin-Juarez, executive director of Feeding Hope said, in a social media post. “Because here, they’re not just seen, they’re reminded that they matter.”
Speaking during the serving Sunday night, Gowin-Juarez said it’s going to be amazing now that Feeding Hope is in their building.
“We had 24 people show up to our first Sunday serving and 20 of them stayed for the word,” Juarez said.
Turning Point has a small devotional from 5:30-6 p.m. on Sunday nights.
“We want to be a hub of resources for the community and so we think that feeding them and feeding their spirit is very important,” Gowin-Juarez said. “But, we also want to able to provide resources, anything that they may need to help them further their life, and just encouragement. We just want to be here to provide anything they might need.”
Gowin-Juarez expressed excitement about the building and she said that she is so thankful for the support from the community that made all of this happen.
“We’re just thankful for God’s path for us,” Gowin-Juarez said. “Just what all He has ready for us to do now. It’s more of a table-fed seating area. We can actually sit down and have meals with them and engage with them and encourage them and listen and be there, and be just a hopeful encouraging prayer partner if that’s what they want. Or, if they just need someone to talk or if they need some help or resources, then we’ll see what we can provide for them.
“When we were serving at the park, it was really hard to do that because they would come up and get their meal and it would be really hot or the elements. So, they would just basically get their meals to go. So, now that we’re here and we don’t allow them to take their meals anymore, then they are sitting in here, so it gives us opportunity to sit down and make those relationships and build on them.”
Feeding Hope will have a golf tournament June 12 that will be a fundraiser for the organization.
“As we’ve gotten into the building, we are 100 percent community supported and so we just need that continuous support, whether it’s donations, we have a website that we’re trying to push out for donations, and if they’ll support us, even if they want to come up here help just sit, serve or spread the word, we are just thankful for all of this,” Gowin-Juarez said.
