“These are casseroles …”

FOOD HAS BECOME THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE AT VALLEY VIEW UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.

John Dalton, Inmate: “You can’t put into words how great the meal is.”

THANKS TO A COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT, THESE TENNESSEE INMATES TASTE A KIND OF FREEDOM – AND SOME GREAT SOUTHERN COOKING.

Ricky Latham, Inmate: “We eat sometimes until we’re just almost ashamed, because we just eat so much.”

WHEN THE CHURCH PROVIDES THE MATERIALS, ROOF REPAIRS AND OTHER BUILDING PROJECTS COME FREE OF CHARGE.

Pastor Bill Cahill: “These past two years they’ve saved us over $35,000 in labor alone.”

HARD LABOR DOES HAVE ITS REWARDS.

IT’S AN UNLIKELY GROUP FOR SHARING A MEAL, YET IT’S BECOME A RECIPE FOR MUTUAL RESPECT.

Pauline Phillippi, Church Member: “I consider them a blessing, I really do. Because we learn to be respectful of people, no matter what troubles they’ve had.”

THIS IS COMFORT FOOD.

Pauline Phillippi: “We feel that we can share with them and maybe influence their lives.”

CAN A MEAL BECOME MINISTRY? MAYBE IT DEPENDS ON HOW WELL IT’S PREPARED.

Ricky Latham “To sit down like that and be around nice people and eat a good meal, it makes a big difference. Y’all just don’t know how we appreciate it.”

NO ONE GOES HOME HUNGRY – AND FOR THESE CHURCH WOMEN, THAT IS SATISFACTION ENOUGH.

Pauline Phillippi “Because they’re people just like we are, and it makes them feel good.”