By Wiley Henry
MEMPHIS, TN — Sean Roberts lost his landscaping job more than a week ago. Now he and his friend, Tiffany Smith, are experiencing homelessness.
“My boss moved and gave up the job; he moved on,” said Roberts, 33.
On Saturday (March 9), nearly two dozen homeless and hungry men and women — Roberts and Smith among them — were treated to a tasty meal that Daughters of Zion, a 501(c)3 organization fighting poverty and homelessness, served from a food truck.
They had a choice of roast beef, turkey, or chicken salad sandwiches, with bow tie pasta salad, homemade cake, and a bottle of water — courtesy of Recover Food, Feed Hope, an outreach ministry based at Church of the Holy Communion.
“There are a lot of people in need,” said Roberts, calling the homeless food truck a blessing.
Smith, 32, agreed.
Each day, seven days a week, the homeless congregate outside First Presbyterian Church-Memphis at the corner of Poplar Avenue and B.B. King Boulevard in anticipation of receiving a meal.
And each day, between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., the Daughters of Zion homeless food truck serves the homeless and hungry at that location and others throughout Memphis and Shelby County.
The food is prepared in a commercial kitchen at Jesus People Church-Memphis in the Hickory Hill community. The food truck, a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van, is equipped with a mobile kitchen.
Daughters of Zion leases space at the church, where Dr. Gerald Kiner is pastor. He said 80 percent of the food is cooked fresh each day by Chef Cynthia Washington and served from the food truck.
The nonprofit was birthed at the church by two mothers, Mary Butler and Marsha James, said Kiner, the executive director. “They wanted me to start an organization for women to help them learn the Bible.”
Conceived in 2007, Daughters of Zion seeks to improve the lives of the underserved by providing various services such as business development, career planning, and youth programs. Feeding the homeless is one of its services.
Kiner knows something about being hungry. As a little boy growing up, he said, “My mother had five children, and we didn’t have much at all.” His father died when he was 12 and the family struggled mightily.
“We were on public assistance,” he explained.
On Sundays, the family attended church. After the benediction, congregants could eat for $5. “My mother couldn’t afford $5 a plate,” said Kiner. “When I became a pastor, we serve the church for free every Sunday.”
Twenty-one years later, the congregants at Jesus People Church still eat free. “I never charged,” the pastor said, “because I knew what it felt like to be turned away and you’re hungry.”
Devoid of food as a child would strengthen Kiner’s resolve as a pastor to feed the homeless and hungry. “The homeless who don’t have money — like I didn’t have money — and get a plate for free, that’s a wonderful feeling,” he said.
That feeling and Kiner’s determination to feed the homeless and the hungry is bolstered by Matthew 25:35 (NKJV): “for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in.”
“We serve between 70 and 100 people a day right now, and going once a day with one truck,” said Kiner, thanking Shelby County government and several county commissioners for funding the non-profit’s first homeless food truck.
“I love the food truck,” said Keara Portlock, who lost her job at a fast-food restaurant about four months ago. “It’s a great establishment. They’re considerate to homeless people.”
Originally from Massachusetts, Portlock has lived in Memphis for a year. Without income, the 25-year-old shelters at churches. Though her predicament may be grave, homelessness hasn’t dampened her spirit.
Flashing a grateful smile, Portlock said this about the food truck: “They serve good meals every day. Nine times out of 10, it will be hot.”
Copyright 2024 TNTRIBUNE. All rights reserved.
