A Heart of Service: MLK Jr. Day of Service event to feed hungry for months

The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service event on Jan. 19 at St. James Hendersonville provided a fine example of “many hands make light work” as around 250 people from over 10 Henderson County congregations and civic organizations gathered to bag four thousand pounds of rice and beans for The Storehouse, a Hendersonville food and hygiene pantry. The concerted effort, with folks of all ages bagging food around tables in Stillwell Hall, took just under an hour to complete.

            “We are here to continue to show compassion for our brothers and sisters in the spirit of Dr King,” said Melinda Lowrance, a Hendersonville City Council member and President of the Henderson County NAACP, during the welcome service in the St. James sanctuary. Lowrance is a longtime member of St. Paul Tabernacle AME Zion Church, whose congregation has participated in each of the Henderson County Day of Service events since its inception 11 years ago. Lowrance, along with Ronnie Pepper, local historian, storyteller and civic leader, reminded the diverse group gathered in the pews the significance of King’s legacy and the responsibility we share to continue his social justice work. Pepper shared a rousing story set in an African village with a message centered on personal integrity, opportunity and equitable power. Then, after St. James member Laurie Parkerson gave brief instructions on how the food bagging was to take place, the crowd enthusiastically filed into Stillwell Hall to bag the around 4,300 meals for local families in need.

            “This is just a wonderful event, I always look forward to it,” said Pepper as he looked around the crowded parish hall. “And just like in ‘Jaws,’ we need a bigger boat!” As each table bagged, Blue Ridge Service Corps members were among those gathering the Ziploc bags full of rice and beans to get ready to load on a delivery truck bound for The Storehouse. According to a casual poll of hands that St. James member Sandra Winecoff took at the opening service as part of her welcome as moderator, many of those present for this 2026 Day of Service event had not previously participated. “Years ago, this event was much smaller, with just eight tables as opposed to the dozens today,” said St, James member Dorothy Fantle.

            Five current Blue Ridge Service Corps members (or “Fellows”), along with four BRSC alumni and friends, orchestrated the set-up in Stillwell Hall, placing rice and beans in trays for participants to scoop into bags along with cooking instructions. “The event was a lot bigger than I thought it would be,” said Mia White of the BRSC. “It was a fun time, and went by fast!”

            Linda Dolan, office manager for The Storehouse, said, “Every year it amazes me – this is such a blessing for us. Four thousand pounds of beans and rice goes a long way for our clients.

It’s a healthy meal, and such a staple for our food pack boxes.” Dolan added that the food will last around two or three months before it’s gone. “We couldn’t do what we do without the support of churches and the community.”