Story Published:
Dec 2, 2008 at 7:30 PM EST
Story Updated:
Dec 2, 2008 at 7:30 PM EST
AUGUSTA, Ga. – An Augusta woman is reaching out to her generosity in her neighborhood by feeding the hungry.
Since October, Patsy Skinner has been making warm meals for the poor and homeless in her community.
Maybe it's her cooking or maybe it's that more and more people are falling on hard times, but her guests are growing in numbers every week.
"I knew that there were a lot of people that didn't have a way to fix a hot meal," said Skinner.
That realization turned into a free home cooked meal once a week for the homeless and poor of the community, served hot and fresh from her kitchen every Wednesday.
"I wouldn't feed them anything that we wouldn't eat ourselves. In fact, we eat with them,” said Skinner. "I can take a 5 pound bag of potatoes and feed 50 people if I have to."
Charles Williams, who lives close to Skinner, rolls by in his wheelchair every Wednesday for the best meal he'll have all week.
"She has done something I wish other people would do," said Williams. "She is a very good lady."
Patsy cooked up 12 meals the first week; unsure if anyone would come. She never expected it to become so popular.
"The next week it went up and up, and last week we had turkey and dressing with all the trimmings, the whole nine yards and we did 64 meals."
Patsy acknowledges that many of her guests are not perfect people.
"A lot of them in this neighborhood have alcohol and drug dependencies, but I don't get down on those people,” said Skinner. "We do it because we love them, and we want to share with them."
Patsy cooks and pays for the food out of her own pocket every week, but she says she could use donations.
If you want to help, you can drop off food and clothing items at Eddie's Auto Repairs at 2311 Old Savannah Road in Augusta.
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