In today’s competitive landscape, some people, organizations, and companies stand out by serving the community or customer by going ‘Above and Beyond’ expectations.
In 1984, Helen Ashe felt called to serve the hungry in Knoxville after seeing a local church soup line on the news. Her twin sister, Ellen Turner, quickly joined her in the mission to “feed God’s children.”
Born in 1928 in Abbeville to sharecropping parents, the sisters learned hard work early through chores, cooking, and cleaning. After high school, they moved to Knoxville to attend Knoxville College, later becoming nurses at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. There, Helen often saw patients and families in the ER who were hungry and unable to afford food. She began buying meals for them out of her own pocket.
After retiring, the sisters expanded that compassion into the community by founding The Love Kitchen. They served their first 22 meals on February 14, 1986, in a church basement on Parkview Avenue. From there, they delivered food from homes, neighborhoods, and even the trunk of their car—always determined to feed anyone in need.
The Love Kitchen Sisters
In 1991, a turning point came when a local business offered them a building for $1, allowing The Love Kitchen to establish a permanent home. Over time, their work gained national attention, including features on The Oprah Winfrey Show and the reality series Secret Millionaire.
Though Ellen passed away in 2015 and Helen in 2018, their legacy endures. Supported by volunteers and the community, The Love Kitchen continues to serve meals, offer comfort, and live out their belief: “Everybody is God’s Somebody.”
Information from the Love Kitchen website.
This column aims to highlight inspiring stories about organizations and businesses, or the individuals within them, who go ‘Above and Beyond’, showcasing their commitment to excellence, community service, or customer satisfaction. Contact news@knoxtntoday.com with your stories.
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