Starkville churches come together to feed those in need

Seventeen Starkville churches are working together to provide free meals three times a week to members of the community in need.

Put a strain on many of our lives... but a group of churches in the starkville area are working to fight through the struggle.

Wtva's rhea thornton is in starkville with more about the churches' efforts.

I'm outside of the episcopal church of the resurrection in starkville where 17 churches are coming together providing a warm meal to those in need.

"some of us don't have nothing to eat at all."

William jones became a regular to the casserole kitchen back in march when the pandemic began.

He said having a warm meal provided three times a week means the world to him.

William jones - regular at the casserole kitchen: "i don't know if a lot of people experience being hungry, starving.

Some people don't even really eat nothing from one day to the next so just to have something to get you to move to, to carry on from one day to the next it's a lot.

It means a whole lot."

About 50 people, including jones, were outside the church at 5:30 waiting for a hot meal.

These meals are provided by 17 churches within the starkville community.

Each church rotates shifts to provide meals for each week.

Rex buffington is the co- director of casserole kitchen.

He said this is the twelth year of the free meal deal... but things have changed because of the pandemic.

Rex buffington - co-director of casserole kitchen: "for most of those 12 years, up until covid, we had everybody come inside and sit down and enjoy the meal together.

Of course when covid hit, we had to change all of that and so we've moved to all to-go plates."

Buffington said the changes created a loss for the personal side of these meals.

However, both he and jones said it still means a lot to the community.

Rex buffington: "i think it's the meal, but it's also the caring that it expresses that means a lot to people because they need the help and the fact that it's so willingly provided by their neighbors who are able to provide, it means a lot."

William jones: "to know that i can come here and depend on somebody to feed me when i don't have anything to eat because i'm not working at the moment because of my medical situation, it was heartfelt."

Now these meals are available on tuesday's, thursday's, and saturday's... but buffington did say the group has seen an increase in those needing meals so if you're searching for a warm meal, be sure to arrive around 5:30 when they start handing them out.

Reporting live in starkville, rhea thornton wtva 9 news.

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