Members of one Dawson County congregation will soon open their church’s doors and their hearts on a weekly basis to others looking for food and fellowship. 

Cornerstone Christian Church, located at 236 Etowah River Road, will serve hot meals to those in need every Monday starting Jan. 9 from 6:15-7:30 p.m. as part of its “Kitchen of Hope.” 

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If you have additional questions about the “Kitchen of Hope,” you can reach out to the church through its main phone number, (706) 265-4933.

Ministerial staff will be present during the weekly meals, so if people attend with needs that are either spiritual or financial, they can be redirected to the appropriate help, said event co-organizer and church member Allison Cantrell.

The meal kitchen is a revamped effort of previous attempts and now has the support of members like those involved in the church’s women’s ministry, Cantrell said.

She explained that the idea for “Kitchen of Hope” gained steam in light of conversations like the one she had with fellow church member and secretary Jodi Cofer, who’s also volunteered with Dawson County Family Connection and The Place.  

“We were just talking, and she had mentioned that there were still a lot of families in the community that struggle, not just during the holidays, but all year round,” Cantrell said. 

The meal kitchen is intended to help more than only those with financial or food needs.

“[It’s for] if you need fellowship, if you need just someone or talk to… if you want to make friends or if you want to get into a church and you don’t want to come on a Sunday where everybody’s there,” Cantrell added of the event. “It’s fulfilling all kinds of needs over a meal.”

Her and the other volunteers’ primary goal is to see people uplifted through their efforts. 

“We just hope that people feel seen and loved and that Jesus is glorified,” Cantrell said.