Stacey Odell, a member of Judson Baptist Church, said when most people think about fighting hunger, their first thought isn't about starving people in Kokomo.
But maybe it should be.
"It seems like everyone wants to go to Africa to feed people, but you look around Kokomo and there's a lot of empty houses and there's a lot people who don't have food," she said. "No one should have to go hungry. We all have so much."
It's a realization that Judson Baptist Church has taken to heart through its ministry, called "Feed My Sheep."
For nearly a year, the church has served and delivered free meals every Wednesday to the hungry, the helpless or to people who simply don't feel like cooking.
"It's not just for needy people, although of course they're welcome," said Pastor Gary Britten. "It's really for anyone who would just like a free meal. ... This is our way of saying to the community that we care about and love people."
Odell, who has volunteered nearly every week since the ministry began, said around 30 people normally show up for generous portions of meatloaf, ham, soup, pie or whatever else happens to be on the menu that week.
Another 20 meals or so are personally delivered to shut-ins, widows or people recuperating from surgery or sickness.
Jane Ortman, a church member who volunteers to drive the meals to Kokomo-area residents, told the story of a 95-year-old man who signed up for in-home delivery. Instead of taking it to the door, she said he leaves the garage door open so she can pull right in, head inside and deliver the food.
"He's always ready," Ortman said with a laugh. "He's got his knife and fork on the table. I get him a glass of water and he's all set. Just seeing the smile on his face and knowing he appreciates it makes every bit of it worth it."
Britten said members at the church take turns buying, preparing and cooking the meal every week, which usually ends up being a full-day undertaking for volunteers.
Any food that's left over is saved and delivered later in the week or donated to the Kokomo Rescue Mission, Odell said.
Over the last year, Britten said the economic downturn has helped spike the number of people signing up for home-delivery and said he hopes the ministry continues to grow.
"If it ever got so big where we ourselves couldn't handle it, we'd probably try to piggy-back with some other churches and ask them to join us," Britten said.
And although the church hosts a Bible study after the meal for anyone who wants to attend, the real goal of the free-meal outreach isn't necessarily to get people into church, Britten said, but to simply serve like Jesus instructed.
"We're not forcing anything on anybody," he said. "It's not an attempt to force-feed religion on somebody. It's an attempt to try to meet a need and help people and let them know we care — which is what Jesus did."
Odell agreed, adding the motivation behind the "Feed My Sheep" ministry at Judson Baptist Church is fairly simple.
"Everybody can use a hot meal," she said.
