RICH SQUARE – While the majority of local, state and national residents are fortunate to sit down at the table and enjoy a wholesome meal, there are others suffering from the pains of hunger.

A local organization wishes to help that latter group.

Creek Development Corporation and Celebration Church of Rich Square are sponsoring The King’s Kitchen, an outreach effort of the two groups in conjunction with the Food Bank of the Albemarle.

The King’s Kitchen will conduct its grand opening by serving up a free lunch from 12 noon until 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 16 at the W.S. Creecy Community Center in Rich Square (210 Roberts Street).

“We are partnering with the Food Bank of the Albemarle to help stamp out hunger here in our local community as well as the communities beyond Rich Square’s borders,” said Creek Development Corporation spokesperson Jackie Grant. “We will feed anyone that is hungry. All one has to do is show up, sign in, to include telling us what county you reside in, and help yourself to a free meal.”

Saturday’s menu will consist of BBQ chicken, mashed potatoes and sweet peas.

King’s Kitchen will also be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays for dinner (4-6 p.m.). For the remainder of May, that free meal will consist of roast pork, white rice, corn and sweet peas on Tuesdays; and baked spaghetti and green beans on Thursdays.

“We also plan to be open at least one, possibly two, Saturdays each month for lunch,” Grant noted.

She added that the menu items will change monthly.

“That helps us with ordering the food in a more controlled manner,” Grant stated.

Grant said the idea for The King’s Kitchen has been in the works for a while.

“For me, it broke my heart last summer when we had a few adults come in during the summer feeding program we offer for children at the Creecy Center and they were turned away for the food because of their age,” she said. “We were required to only feed those up to age 19 with that program.”

The effort began to launch an all-ages feeding program began to gain stream through Celebration Church Rich Square.

“Our pastor has a big heart; the Lord laid it on his soul to help those in our area who are forced to go without a good, hot meal on a regular basis,” Grant stressed. “We took it from there. We’re ready to hit the ground running. We’re excited about what the Lord is going to do here in our area.”

For more information about The King’s Kitchen or to learn about becoming a volunteer, contact Grant at 252-395-1398.