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\u201cI had been saying for years that I wanted to open a soup kitchen,\u201d she explained. \u201cFour years ago, Jennifer Ray and I talked about it, and she said, \u2018let\u2019s get together and do this.\u2019 We set it up and didn\u2019t 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.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe serve about 104 [people] every Tuesday,\u201d Gloria explained. \u201cWe 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.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While glad to offer such service to the community, Damron said it is heartbreaking to see how many children need food and help. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt breaks my heart because they can\u2019t help themselves,\u201d she said. \u201cWe have a boy that\u2019s 10 years old that brings his little sister in here. She\u2019s 3, and he cares for her and ensures she eats. I have several that come by during the week, and if they\u2019re hungry, they\u2019ll come in, and I\u2019ll fix them something. They always know there\u2019s 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\u2019t have a way of getting anything, so we help them however we can.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI would like a mobile shower unit. Something separate for men and women,\u201d she said. \u201cWe need that because some people don\u2019t have access to hot water. Having the dignity of being clean means more than people realize.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019s at (931) 454-0010 to learn more about \u201cCome to the Table.\u201d GN <\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Many verses in the Bible tell of the goodness and fulfillment of helping others.\u00a0 Acts 20:35 states, \u201cIn everything, I have shown you that, by working hard, we must help the weak. In this way, we remember the Lord Jesus\u2019 words: \u2018It is more blessed to give than to receive.\u2019\u201d In Romans 12:13, we are […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":15803,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15796","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories"],"yoast_head":"\n