WINCHESTER, VA - Not everyone can have the privilege of a family gathering every Thanksgiving but one local church stepped out to provide a hearty meal.
"It's just to provide a good wholesome meal and those not just in need. A lot of people come for the fellowship, just to hang out," says Kim Beard, co-pastor of The Living Faith Church.
It is a holiday of giving but while many families spend it in their homes, not everyone is as fortunate.
That is where the soup kitchen steps in.
"We have seen a rise in homelessness over the past two years," says Beard. "It's also including families and a lot of children so we just wanted to be able to have a place where they can come and just have good fellowship and a good meal."
Even if the time was not shared with family members, they still had the same joy spending it with the community that has become close to the heart.
"It's a big sacrifice, the time that is put into it but at the same time for me personally, I tell the folks that come here that these are my guests, these are my friends," says Beard.
Then there is Robin Tigney, someone who volunteered with the soup kitchen for three years and he says he has seen relationships grow.
"They have a place to go and they can feel amongst people like they have families because they're surrounded by those that don't have families so they can come here like they have family," says Tigney.
The Living Faith Church also offers a soup kitchen on a regular basis every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
"It's just to provide a good wholesome meal and those not just in need. A lot of people come for the fellowship, just to hang out," says Kim Beard, co-pastor of The Living Faith Church.
It is a holiday of giving but while many families spend it in their homes, not everyone is as fortunate.
That is where the soup kitchen steps in.
"We have seen a rise in homelessness over the past two years," says Beard. "It's also including families and a lot of children so we just wanted to be able to have a place where they can come and just have good fellowship and a good meal."
Even if the time was not shared with family members, they still had the same joy spending it with the community that has become close to the heart.
"It's a big sacrifice, the time that is put into it but at the same time for me personally, I tell the folks that come here that these are my guests, these are my friends," says Beard.
Then there is Robin Tigney, someone who volunteered with the soup kitchen for three years and he says he has seen relationships grow.
"They have a place to go and they can feel amongst people like they have families because they're surrounded by those that don't have families so they can come here like they have family," says Tigney.
The Living Faith Church also offers a soup kitchen on a regular basis every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
