At Fellowship Missions, our kitchen is not only a place to prepare food; it is a symbol of hope, resilience, and restoration. It transforms our emergency shelter into a haven where people can experience love, acceptance, and begin to rebuild their lives, one meal at a time.
Who Is Behind The Kitchen Doors?
Mechelle Trent, our Food Service Director began working at Fellowship Missions at the end of 2021.
“My heart has always led me to missions through food and serving and Tammy and Eric never let me forget that there was a perfect position still waiting at Fellowship for me when I was ready. At the end of 2021, I felt God had put a big red YOU ARE HERE pin on Fellowship Missions. It was time to step into that role.”
In addition to Mechelle’s leadership, the entire kitchen staff is made up of shelter residents who are currently participating in one of the programs within Fellowship Missions.
We are currently working toward building a culinary program that will hopefully be another way residents can learn professional skills and work within our community. With the official opening of It’s All Good Food Truck and Catering in 2023, Mechelle is excited to see the program begin to take shape in the coming years.
Volunteers Provide Essential Help
While Mechelle and shelter residents run the kitchen every day, volunteers also provide essential support to the operations by helping prepare and serve meals, and are always welcome in our kitchen.
What To Expect As A Volunteer
There are several ways to volunteer in our kitchen. Whether you’re part of a meal-making team, preparing a meal on-site at our kitchen, or coming in to help prepare and serve a meal with our kitchen leads, you can always expect to be greeted and treated like family when you’re here.
If you can’t volunteer in person but still want to help, we can always use donations of food and other items to help serve our residents. Just check our Needs List or social media channels to see what we need each month and you can be an important part of helping meet the needs of our residents.
More Than “Just” Food
“I strive to make sure the team has the tools they need to be successful, creative, and empowered. God makes sure the rest falls into place.”
Mechelle Trent, Food Services Director
Our kitchen is essential to everything we do at Fellowship Missions. It plays a pivotal role in not only addressing basic nutritional needs but also fostering a sense of community among our staff members and shelter residents.
Beyond the food Mechelle and her team provide every day, our kitchen serves as a space for social interaction and connection. Shared meals offer a sense of normalcy and comfort, breaking down the barriers of isolation that often accompany those facing homelessness.
As residents, staff, and volunteers come together to prepare and share food, they forge bonds, creating a supportive community that can be an important source of emotional strength.
In addition, our kitchen empowers residents by giving them opportunities to develop important skills and experience success as they participate in the shelter’s programs working toward future employment and self-sufficiency.
Fellowship Missions provides food services and volunteer opportunities through our kitchen, but the most impactful thing we do is love, lift up, and strive to empower the people we serve.
