Many verses in the Bible tell of the goodness and fulfillment of helping others.
Acts 20:35 states, “In everything, I have shown you that, by working hard, we must help the weak. In this way, we remember the Lord Jesus’ words: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
In Romans 12:13, we are told: “Contribute to the needs of God’s people and welcome strangers into your home.” Proverbs 11:25 shares that “Generous persons will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”
While we read about the benefits of giving to the less fortunate, the real takeaway from these verses is to put these words into action. Tullahoma resident Gloria Damron knows the benefits of using these words. Working with a devoted staff and volunteer, she shares with those who are less fortunate.
Each Tuesday evening, Gloria and volunteers at Damron’s restaurant open their doors to anyone needing a hot meal. There are no requirements as to who can walk through the door. No one needs to show identification or have a letter stating they deserve a free meal. The public is welcome to come, rest, eat, and enjoy each other’s company.
Damron’s has been a Tullahoma staple for more than 20 years. Their meat-and-three brings in locals and visitors alike to enjoy her famous fried chicken and meatloaf, which have a permanent place on the menu.
Gloria always dreamed of owning a restaurant. Opening in 2001 on the corner of Carroll and Polk Street in Tullahoma, she was there for 11 years before she faced the nightmare of the business catching fire and causing irreparable damage. Overcoming the fire, which would have been the demise of most small businesses, she set up shop in her current location at 714 E. Lincoln St. just two months after the fire and has been going strong ever since.
“We all care about each other here. The public has also continued to support us through it all,” Gloria said.
While Gloria found fulfillment in cooking homestyle dishes that warmed the body and souls of her customers, she wanted to further the cause of the restaurant. This is how the nonprofit organization “Come to the Table” would come to exist.
“I had been saying for years that I wanted to open a soup kitchen,” she explained. “Four years ago, Jennifer Ray and I talked about it, and she said, ‘let’s get together and do this.’ We set it up and didn’t know what we were doing or how it would happen, but we opened up on Tuesday night. It was 17 degrees outside, and we had 100 people show up. We have continued to hold it each Tuesday night, and the Lord has continued to provide.”
Now an official and licensed 501(c)(3), Damron stated that donations from businesses and community members pay for the meals. The dinners are executed with the help of volunteers from local civic, church, and athletic groups to the everyday individual who is just looking to help.
“We serve about 104 [people] every Tuesday,” Gloria explained. “We have a free table set up where several local churches provide us with free items to those who may need them. We also do a school supply drive and a coat drive. This year we did a backpack drive. We also help provide children with gifts for Christmas.”
While glad to offer such service to the community, Damron said it is heartbreaking to see how many children need food and help.
“It breaks my heart because they can’t help themselves,” she said. “We have a boy that’s 10 years old that brings his little sister in here. She’s 3, and he cares for her and ensures she eats. I have several that come by during the week, and if they’re hungry, they’ll come in, and I’ll fix them something. They always know there’s always food. We help them with school projects, or if they just need something, they know [this] is a place they can come. Many of them don’t have a way of getting anything, so we help them however we can.”
Gloria has no plan to slow down her efforts. She welcomes all volunteers willing to serve for an hour and a half each Tuesday. She promises that they leave with much more than what they came with.
She also dreams of acquiring a mobile shower in the future. Gloria said clean and warm water is something we take for granted, and everyone should have access to it.
“I would like a mobile shower unit. Something separate for men and women,” she said. “We need that because some people don’t have access to hot water. Having the dignity of being clean means more than people realize.”
For those who would like to volunteer, Gloria said they are welcome to stop in on Tuesdays at 4:30 p.m., and they will make room for everyone to lend a helping hand. You can also call Damron’s at (931) 454-0010 to learn more about “Come to the Table.” GN
