At 5:30 every Wednesday night, the Family Life Building at Henderson United Methodist Church on Baseline Road near Otter Creek is bustling with activity as people gather for a community meal. Around 60 people come together each week for food and fellowship—about half are church members and about half join from the surrounding community.
The Manna Project volunteers: John Blanks, Garry Jones, Bob Sebourn, and Kent Kuykendall.
The energy and drive behind The Manna Project, as this weekly community meal is called, are four men who cook, serve, and clean up after the meals: Bob Sebourn, Garry Jones, Kent Kuykendall, and John Blanks. Virginia Hardgrave and other volunteers provide all the desserts. Together with a rotating staff of volunteers who pitch in when they can, this crew works with the Arkansas Food Bank to acquire food at a low cost and prepare meals that people keep coming back for. As Garry Jones says, “I love seeing people smile.” Some of the most popular meals are breakfast for dinner, sloppy joes, and Philly cheesesteaks.
The Manna Project began in 2015, as a greater need arose with other feeding programs in the community ending. More than just focused on meeting physical needs, the men who lead The Manna Project see it as a ministry. Kent Kuykendall says this is what they “feel called to do,” following up with “if we can feed their stomach, maybe we can feed their soul also.” Bob Sebourn says “sharing a meal is primal—it brings people together.” As Rusty, one person who was enjoying the meal and the fellowship last Wednesday told me, “at some point you stop coming for the food and start coming for the camaraderie…I look forward to seeing them.”
Bennie and Rusty enjoying the Wednesday night community meal together at Henderson United Methodist Church
The success of The Manna Project at Henderson UMC, which has been able to run for less than $1/person/meal, has spread to other churches in the Methodist conference. Looking ahead, Art and Dee English, two volunteers at the Manna Project, are planning to start game time at the weekly meals, where attendees can play Baggo and Bingo in addition to getting a warm meal.
One volunteer suggested that congregations in the area could coordinate to offer community meals on rotating days of the week to ensure that those in need are fed as often as possible. Those who are interested in volunteering with or contributing to the Manna Project can contact Bob Sebourn at bsebourn@artistotle.net.