Raymond was a first timer at The Spinning Plate meal distribution at Grace Church Raleigh that rainy Friday afternoon. He doesn’t live in the area, but he takes care of his elderly aunt and comes by the church daily to pick up meals for her to ensure she gets enough to eat. He was pleased to be getting the hot beef and pasta dinner The Spinning Plate was serving up, and said he was glad to know that the food truck made monthly stops at Grace Church. He’d be sure to come back again, he said as he headed back to his aunt’s apartment.
Raymond was just one of many folks from the neighborhood who stopped by to pick up a meal or two from The Spinning Plate—many recognizing the sleek black food truck from previous visits to the church parking lot. Grace Church Raleigh is a regular stop on The Spinning Plate’s schedule, where Food Truck Manager Josh Maple serves up free hot meals prepared fresh for the community. The connection between The Spinning Plate—an initiative of Inter-Faith Food Shuttle—and Grace Church Raleigh is a natural one since the partnership between the Food Shuttle and Grace Church goes back many years.
The Grace Church Raleigh community is firmly committed to their Ministry of Kindness, which has been distributing meals to neighbors in need Monday through Friday since 2003. On Fridays, extra meals are given for Saturdays and Sundays. The food for these meals is provided by Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, with additional items donated by parishioners when needed. According to Ministry of Kindness volunteer Dr. Lisa Hodges, “Whenever something is needed—whatever it is, our community always steps up!”
When The Spinning Plate began community meal distributions in February 2021, Josh Maple contacted Mary Wiggins, who coordinates the church’s nutrition program. The first distribution was a success, and folks from the neighborhood were pleased. Since then, The Spinning Plate makes a monthly appearance at the church and neighbors have become regulars, enjoying the variety of dishes served up by the mobile kitchen.
Dr. Hodges says The Spinning Plate’s impact on the community has been a positive one. The monthly arrival of the food truck takes the pressure off the volunteer staff, as they have one less meal to prepare for the community distributions. “Plus, we’re grateful that they’re willing to give out two plates or more for those that are homebound.”
Dr. Lisa Hodges
The rain finally let up, and folks came from all over the neighborhood to pick up their Friday dinner from The Spinning Plate and their Saturday and Sunday dinners from the Ministry of Kindness volunteers before they headed on home for the weekend.