Huntsville Magazine
  • WHERE TO FIND THE MAGAZINE
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • ADVERTISE
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
ABOUT US
  • WHERE TO FIND THE MAGAZINE
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • ADVERTISE
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
Categories
  • Art + Entertainment
  • Bar & Lounge
  • Business
  • Children's Event
  • Comedy
  • Community
  • Contest
  • Editor's Pick
  • Events
  • Family + Kids
  • Featured
  • Food + Drink
  • Guide
  • Health + Fitness
  • Home + Real Estate
  • Huntsville Attractions
  • Huntsville Museum of Art
  • Live Music
  • Local Artist
  • Local Band
  • Love and Marriage Huntsville
  • Music
  • Orion Amphitheater
  • People
  • Photoshoot
  • Print Magazine
  • Printed Story
  • Recurring
  • Rocket City
  • School
  • Small Business Spotlight
  • Sponsored
  • Sports
  • Stovehouse
  • Style + Shopping
  • The Camp
  • Things to Do
  • Travel + Outdoors
  • Uncategorized
  • Video
  • Weekly
  • Weekly Roundup
Meta
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
  • WHERE TO FIND THE MAGAZINE
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • ADVERTISE
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
Huntsville Magazine
SUBSCRIBE
Huntsville Magazine
  • Entertainment
  • Family + Kids
  • Food + Drink
  • Health + Fitness
  • Home + Real Estate
  • Sports
  • Shopping
  • Travel
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • Community
  • Editor's Pick
  • Print Magazine
  • Sponsored

Soup Kitchen Dignity: Inside the Rose of Sharon Soup Kitchen

  • January 5, 2023
  • 5 minute read
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0
story written by sarah chase

photos by dokk savage

Presented By

Jeremiah 29:11 was the bible verse that began it all for Theresa Wilson. After moving to the Huntsville area from El Paso, Texas, Wilson found herself in a place where she knew no one and had no family, but her faith led her to remember the verse: “For I know the plans I have for you.” In those words she began to trust in the future God had planned for her.

A month later Wilson felt moved by Christ to make a chicken. That effort was one that changed the trajectory of her life. That next day she made a whole dinner that included chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans and a cheesecake.

“I loaded it all up in my car and I was like, ‘Lord, I do not know where you want me to go with this, but just show me.’ There was a couple that had joined the church the week before and the pastor said they had real pretty Christmas lights. They were on the same road as the church, so I went there and knocked on the door. I said ‘I have a meal for you for joining the church’ and they did not know I was coming. I brought in the meals, set it up, left and later on the wife called me and she said ‘What a lovely ministry you have’ and I never thought of myself as worthy enough to have a ministry. I was not that person, but God uses the ones that are unqualified, clueless,” Wilson said.

That one act of kindness led to Wilson developing Team Hope. A mobile ministry that went to homeless camps, delivered food, canned goods and toiletries. Team Hope was the path that set Wilson up to directing the Rose of Sharon Soup Kitchen located in Northwest Huntsville in 2017. Sharon Walker, the previous director, was in search for someone to take over the soup kitchen as she was ready to retire.

“God came to her in a dream and told her to give it to Teresa Wilson, she had to do some research to find me, she called me and she said [she was] retiring and I was a little skeptical until she told me that God came to her told her to give it to me, so I had no choice,” Wilson said. “It was perfect timing. Since I had already been working with the homeless since 2010. I had seven years of relationship experience with them. I would take over the soup kitchen and God’s timing was perfect. It was exactly what God wanted me to do.”

When Wilson took over she was determined to change the soup kitchen to a place where patrons can “dine with dignity.” Wilson saw an opportunity to give more than just food to people in need. She took an effort to improve the overall experience at the soup kitchen.

“I decided I was going to brighten it up by putting tablecloths and tablescapes on the table, fresh flowers. Nobody goes through a line at the soup kitchen here. Everybody is served tableside. So it is like a cafe where you do not pay. We have great home cooked meals and that is anything from spaghetti to chicken and dressing to biscuits and gravy. We have home cooked meals and we plate them on real china with real silverware and we serve them tableside. Everyone that comes here does not feel like ‘oh, I can not afford a meal and so I have to lower myself and go and plead for help here.’ We just serve and love on people and it gives them dignity. Everybody should be treated like that,” Wilson said.

That treatment has indeed impacted the people served by the soup kitchen. Wilson shares that the assistance does not stop at feeding.

They continue to be involved in the lives of the people they serve. “Whether it is going with them to the probation office or going with them to meet family they have been estranged from to taking them for snow cones, my daughter and I have taken a couple of homeless people to get a snow cone, just something different that gives them hope,” Wilson said. “We have had some great success stories with putting people into rehab and actually changing their lives. We had one gentleman, he came in numerous times and was a pretty bad dude on the streets. He went through rehab and changed his life. He lives in Birmingham and now has a job, an apartment, and a truck. He is back on his feet and that is what we do- we try to help by loving them where they are.”

Jerry White, a patron at the soup kitchen, has experienced that love, which is what makes him keep coming back. After hearing about the soup kitchen from others, White and his friends decided to go.

“The people here are great. They are better than any family could possibly be to me. I come down here and get something to eat, something to drink and to cool off,” White said. “They take good care of us and if you need clothes or hygiene stuff they provide that for you. All you have to do is ask.”

The soup kitchen serves two meals Tuesday through Friday, but their efforts to serve the community do not stop there. They also host a food box program, provide access to washer and dryer for laundry and clean clothing, in addition to hosting church services every Sunday morning.

Wilson shares that the soup kitchen is always in need of volunteers to come in and serve. Volunteers can help prepare and serve meals, sort donations, clean and organize items, you name it. “We always need donations of non-perishable food, perishable foods, meat, we take toiletries, clothing, blankets, and monetary donations.”

One local business who recently answered the call for donations is Landers McLarty Subaru. The dealership announced a year-long partnership in which they would cover the operating expenses incurred by the Rose of Sharon, for an entire year.

Landers McLarty Subaru has committed to feeding 100,000 families in addition to volunteering their time in man hours serving the Rose of Sharon organization and its patrons.

Owner and Managing Partner Frank William explains, “We’ve had an ongoing partnership with the Rose of Sharon Soup Kitchen for several years now. When we really thought about it, one year of service for this organization would make a big difference. We want to fill the gap with not only our resources, but also our volunteer efforts.”

For details on how you can join Landers McLarty Subaru and Frank Williams in providing One Year of Love, please visit roseofsharonsoupkitchen.org/a-year-of-love .

Additional information regarding volunteering with the Rose of Sharon Soup Kitchen can be found here, roseofsharonsoupkitchen.org/.

this story first appeared in the fall 2022 issue of huntsville magazine
SUBSCRIBE ONE-YEAR (4 ISSUES) | $24.99
Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Related Topics
  • featured
Takara Swoopes

Takara Swoopes is Publisher, Editor in Chief of Huntsville Magazine. A Decatur, Alabama native, Takara recently returned to North Alabama after twenty years of living in Washington, DC, San Diego, Tokyo, Japan and most recently Honolulu, Hawaii. She is a graduate of Howard University, a Fulbrighter, and mom of four and is happy to call Huntsville, Alabama home.

Previous Article
  • Art + Entertainment
  • Children's Event
  • Editor's Pick
  • Style + Shopping

African-American Themed Wrapping Paper & Gift Bags by Clera’s Creative Gifts

  • December 14, 2022
View
Next Article
  • Editor's Pick
  • Health + Fitness

Local Biz Helps Huntsville Residents Cope with New Challenges

  • January 10, 2023
View
You May Also Like
View
  • 76
  • 3 min
  • Editor's Pick
  • Health + Fitness

Local Biz Helps Huntsville Residents Cope with New Challenges

  • Takara Swoopes
  • January 10, 2023
View
  • 133
  • 1 min
  • Art + Entertainment
  • Children's Event
  • Editor's Pick
  • Style + Shopping

African-American Themed Wrapping Paper & Gift Bags by Clera’s Creative Gifts

  • Takara Swoopes
  • December 14, 2022
Winter Park Huntsville
View
  • 1.8K
  • 2 min
  • Editor's Pick
  • Events
  • Family + Kids

NOV 22, 2022 | New Winter Park Opening at the Orion Amphitheater

  • Takara Swoopes
  • November 18, 2022
View
  • 389
  • 5 min
  • Bar & Lounge
  • Editor's Pick
  • Food + Drink

8 New Huntsville Restaurants You Should Know & Try

  • Takara Swoopes
  • November 17, 2022
View
  • 501
  • 2 min
  • Editor's Pick
  • Events
  • Style + Shopping

NOV 13th | Holiday Market 2022 at MidCity District

  • Takara Swoopes
  • November 8, 2022
View
  • 287
  • 3 min
  • Editor's Pick
  • Huntsville Museum of Art
  • Things to Do

Skating in the Park 2022 at the Huntsville Museum of Art

  • Takara Swoopes
  • November 8, 2022
View
  • 328
  • 2 min
  • Featured
  • Live Music
  • Sponsored

Ring in the 2023 New Year in Tupelo, Mississippi

  • Takara Swoopes
  • November 1, 2022
View
  • 342
  • 2 min
  • Editor's Pick
  • Travel + Outdoors

Southall Farm & Inn, Tennessee, Opening Winter 2022

  • Takara Swoopes
  • October 17, 2022

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

about
Subscribe to Huntsville Magazine
One-Year Subscription (4 Issues) $24.99
Buy Now
Featured Posts
  • 1
    Serengeti 3D Brings One of Africa’s Seven Natural Wonders to Chattanooga
    • January 10, 2023
  • 2
    Local Biz Helps Huntsville Residents Cope with New Challenges
    • January 10, 2023
  • 3
    African-American Themed Wrapping Paper & Gift Bags by Clera’s Creative Gifts
    • December 14, 2022
  • 4
    Sweet Baby Whitlow, Tiffany and Louis Whitlow are Expecting Their First Child Together
    • November 23, 2022
  • Ice Skating Huntsville 5
    Experience Ice Skating Under the Stars
    • November 23, 2022
Recent Posts
  • Patty-Cakes® of Huntsville, International Bronzed Family Heirlooms
    • November 21, 2022
  • Winter Park Huntsville
    NOV 22, 2022 | New Winter Park Opening at the Orion Amphitheater
    • November 18, 2022
  • Experience Endless Adventures at the Tennessee Aquarium
    • November 18, 2022
About
    
    
    💖 Sweet Baby Whitlow! Guess who's expecting? Yes, the gorgeous Tiffany Whitlow (@tiffanywhitlow_) and her husband Louis Whitlow (@louwhit24) of @loveandmarriagehuntsville 😍! 665 48
    🥘 🍕 🍗 🗣 NEW HUNTSVILLE RESTAURANTS TO TRY!  If there's one thing we know well is food and drink in Huntsville- It's one of our favorite hobbies 😆. If you're in need of a reason to get out and enjoy some good food  this month, here are EIGHT! 545 34
    🚐 DRIVE-TO-SERIES: We love travel, adventure, and exploring the areas surrounding the Huntsville Metro Area. In each of our seasonal issues, we spotlight fun cities you can easily access and drive to from Huntsville. 106 5
    😍 Just in case you needed a reminder of how beautiful North Alabama is, here you go! 105 6
    ❤️ THE FALL ISSUE 🍁🍂 Huntsville!!!! Our Fall issue hit the stands last month and literally FLEW 🚀 off the shelves! Thank you for reading, subscribing, and purchasing!! We ❤️ our readers and retail partners! If you haven’t already picked up a copy, it can be purchased throughout Huntsville, including @wholefoodshuntsville our latest retail partner 🥳 to Subscribe, go here: subscribe.huntsville.com use code FAM to save 30% off our one year (four issues) 😘 #huntsvillealabama #huntsville #printmagazine #citymagazine #huntsvillemagazine #rocketcity 191 35
    ❤️ Have you tried Korean barbecue? @stoneage_koreanbbq  is one of our family favorite spots in Huntsville. The food is great and my kids enjoy cooking the food. #winning #koreanbbq #huntsvilleeats #huntsvillemagazine #rocketcityeats 166 3
    Huntsville Magazine

    Input your search keywords and press Enter.