This Sunday, a group from a local church, with the help of the community, is putting on a meal to feed those in need of a good home-cooked meal.

The meal will be served at Veterans Park at the VFW building from 1 to 3 p.m. and is free of charge. Pinto beans, cornbread, stewed potatoes, slaw, drinks and dessert will be served.

The idea came from the Logos (Hebrew for “The Word”) Sunday School class at Fellowship Baptist Church in Ararat. Feeding the Multitudes is based on Matthew Chapter 25, Verse 35 which reads, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”

The class is lead by Tracy Keenan.

One of the Sunday school participants, Ric Marshall, said he got the idea for doing a mission close to home when he went away on a mission trip three years ago.

“My whole intent when I got back was that there are so many missions right here around here that need to be taken care of. You don’t realize how many people that are out there who are in need of a good home-cooked meal once in a while,” Marshall said.

He said the Sunday school class is always looking for ways to give back to the community. Class members are hoping to feed more than 500 people on Sunday.

“It’s compassion for people and making sure that you help your fellow man in any way you can,” Marshall said.

While all of the food donations have been taken care of, Marshall said the group is still in need of volunteers for the day of the meal.

Marshall thanked 13 Bones, Sagebrush, the Mount Airy Meat Center, Food Lion, Holland Green Farms, Titans of Taste and Fellowship Baptist Church for their help. The volleyball team at Surry Community College will be making the slaw for the event.

While many organizations help the hungry at times like Thanksgiving and Christmas, the group at Fellowship wanted to make a difference at a different time of year. The participants hope that if everything goes well, they will try to have more meals of this kind.

“We just want to get everybody who wants to eat to come eat with us,” Marshall said. “This is just a start for a ministry at Fellowship, as far as helping to feed our community goes. We want to continue to help feed the multitudes and hopefully bring that ministry full circle and develop some type of food giveaway.”

Marshall said if anyone knows of an elderly person who would like a meal, but who cannot come out to the park on Sunday, to let him know, and the volunteers will bring the meal to the person. He said the same thing applies to those who want to come and don’t have a way to get there. He said the group will be transporting those who need a ride to the park.

For those interested in helping on Sunday or who need a meal or a ride, call Ric Marshall at 918-2480, or he can be reached at ric.marshall@yahoo.com.

Contact Mondee Tilley at mtilley@mtairynews.com or at 719-1930.