Feeding the hungry is the mission on Emmett Street

• Emmett Street Missionary Church has given free dinners Thursday evenings for six years.
• Emmett Street Missionary Church is at 551 E Emmett Street in Battle Creek

There's always enough for everyone to eat at Emmett Street Missionary Church Thursday nights.

As a church mission six years ago, Wanda Zimmerman said she asked what could be done to help people in the Battle Creek area. Now the church at 552 E. Emmett St. serves dinner every Thursday night in the winter, except Thanksgiving, and five times during the summer — for free.

Every year the program has fed more people who are homeless or people who can't afford to eat on their own.

"Basically we wanted to find a way of getting involved in the community," said Zimmerman, a leader of the ministry.

The ministry consists of five teams, each with their own captain. Each team is responsible for preparing, cooking, serving and cleaning up one meal once a month. So far, funds for the food, utensils, plates and napkins have come from volunteers' pockets and church donations.

The volunteers make the food at home and bring the meals to the church. Volunteers serve each person who comes in who asks for food. There are about 11 people on each team, and Zimmerman said even when they think they will be low on volunteers, they find a way to make it work.

"When somebody can't do it, it seems like God sends along somebody else who says 'Boy I'd really like to help with that,' " she said. "It's amazing."

There's no sign-in sheet and the volunteers don't ask any questions — they just want to feed the hungry. The church sends a bus to the Share Center to pick people up, but Zimmerman said many others walk and drive to the church for a meal.

"It's basically for the homeless and the near homeless," Zimmerman said. "Those that have a roof over their heads, but don't have money to pay all of their other expenses."

Most have heard about the ministry from friends. Zimmerman said the first day they served meals four people came to eat. The second Thursday there were 11. She said this year they haven't had less than 50.

Shirley Harris, another leader of the ministry, said now they plan for 75 people to show up and give seconds if there are leftovers — or make more food if needed.

Last Thursday 70 men, women and children came to the church to eat.

"We have extra cans in the back, too, if need be," Harris said. "We can just open a can of ravioli and heat things up if we need to, if we really run out of food. But we can stretch things like adding water to gravy and making it a little thinner, and then it goes further."

Though they enjoy a free meal, many said it's not the reason they continue to come. Instead, it's the friendly faces and the personal connection they receive.

Tonya Massenburg said she visits the church periodically for a meal and enjoys the company while she eats.

"They treat you nice; they're hospitable," said Massenburg.

Massenburg said she walks to the Share Center to catch the van to the church. The 46-year-old said she can't always afford dinner, so she visits the church. The location is convenient for her, she has made friends and she likes the way she is treated.

"It's a good program and they feed you," Massenburg said. "If you're hungry, don't be hungry; come and eat."

Randy Macpherson and his fiancé Samantha Dabies said they, too, like the way they are treated at Emmett Street Church. The pair said they have come to the meal site more often after their electricity was shut off.

"People are nice; they make sure that you're happy and fed," Macpherson said. "Just wonderful people."

Not only are the visitors appreciative of the service, the volunteers said they enjoy meeting more people from the community.

"It's taken a long time but I've kind of gotten to know all the people," said Becky Olmstead, team captain on a recent Thursday. "It's kind of good because I can respond to them in a different way than I was before."

Others said they have learned lessons about the community by serving others as well.

Zimmerman said before the ministry began, she didn't know the degrees of homelessness that existed in the Battle Creek area.

"For me personally, I didn't know there were people living in tents along the river when it started," Zimmerman said. "I didn't know there were people living in houses with no electricity and no heat and no water."

Now she says visiting with the people is her favorite part of the evening.

Though Harris said the program receives a fair amount of regulars, she said she has been surprised by the number of people who thank them for their service.

"I am surprised at the number of people that come up to us individually and say 'Thank you, that was a good meal' or 'We really appreciate it,' " Harris said. "One guy even came into the kitchen and gave everybody hugs."

Call Olivia Lewis at 966-0581. Follow her on Twitter: @TheWrittenPeace