Casserole Kitchen Bridges Starkville Churches and Aids the Needy
In the town of Starkville, a testament to community spirit, faith, and love for one’s neighbor operates tirelessly three times a week – every week. Aptly named the Casserole Kitchen, this uniquely collaborative initiative opens its doors to the needy, offering them warm meals and a chance to partake in some community fellowship.
A Testament to Gary Cumming’s Vision
Over 16 years ago, a man named Gary Cummings identified a critical need in the community of Starkville – a place where the hungry could find not just food, but also companionship and warmth. Determined to bring this vision to life, Cummings worked tirelessly, setting in motion something that remains an integral part of the community today – the Casserole Kitchen.
“He saw the need here, and so he was determined to start something,” said Rex Buffington, co-coordinator, and co-director of the Casserole Kitchen.
A Unity of Churches
The idea was noble but challenging: provide hot, hearty meals for those who most needed them. However, it was a tall task for a single institution to shoulder. As Buffington explains, no single church could have sustained the Casserole Kitchen’s meaningful mission independently.
The solution? A strong, united front powered by faith and universal love. Seventeen local churches have now come together through the Starkville Church Coalition to continue Cummings’ labor of love.
“It was decided that there was no one church that could do it all. It would be a lot to provide three hot meals a week for any church—even our large churches. If we all came together and did it, however, we could do it on a rotating basis,” explains Buffington.
A Array of Meals Served With Love
Today, Casserole Kitchen serves an array of meals as diverse and rich as the coalition of churches that provide them.
“The churches bring whatever they want to bring,” Buffington states, mentioning dishes like casseroles, fried chicken, hot dogs, barbeque, and spaghetti. “People bring whatever menu they want, and it’s always good food.”
In a given week, the volunteer-driven operation serves about 45 to 46 individuals with enough food to satiate them and, often, to take home, emphasizing the importance of Casserole Kitchen’s mission in the landscape of Starkville’s social fabric.
Acts of kindness, such as the Casserole Kitchen, truly encapsulate the spirit of community. It is this shared love and care that not only feeds the needy but also nurtures the unity of Starkville’s community. In a world often divided, reminders such as these, of what we can achieve when we come together, are indeed a nourishing food for thought.
