A relatively new nonprofit in Richmond continued its monthly mission of feeding neighbors in need with an event at Nevin Community Park on Saturday.
Appointed & Anointed Ministries, Inc. a division of Independent Holiness Church in Richmond, fed dozens of unsheltered people and families at the park at 4th Street and MacDonald Avenue in the Iron Triangle neighborhood.
The nonprofit incorporated in November with a focus on providing hot and cold meals to unsheltered residents in their community.
“We feed the soul physically and spiritually while showing compassion for humanity,” Shurston McElroy, Appointed & Anointed Inc. director.
McElroy is a longtime volunteer for Independent Community Church, which has been feeding the community for 25 years during Thanksgiving and Christmas. For several years, McElroy had been thinking about launching a nonprofit to expand those efforts. Heartbreak during the pandemic prompted action.
“My heart sank as I watched more and more people becoming broke and destitute,” she said. “I also experienced becoming unemployed and not knowing how I was going get by. I put my trust in my Faith and was led to start Appointed and Anointed Ministries Inc. I love giving back and helping out in our town.”
The nonprofit is doing one food giveaway event per month, with the goal of having multiple per month in the future. Before holding an event, the team hangs up flyers around the area where the event will take place.
“Today we served our unsheltered residents a fine meal of fried chicken, greens, yams and a roll,” McElroy said. “We generally serve about one 150 meals over a two hour period at the park. We serve pre-prepared and packaged plates of food to make it easy and convenient to serve to the public.”
For Shawn, who is experiencing homelessness, events like the one held Saturday by Appointed and Annointed “proves that people still care about the quality of life for people here in Richmond.”
“Life is hard here on the streets,” Shawn said. “But these folks are here to help and make a real difference.”
