How Grace Kitchen supports food needs and local farmers

During my visit, I had the privilege of meeting Pastor Cade Barefoot and his wife, Co-Pastor Taylor Barefoot. They were eager to show me around the facility and introduced me to Matthew Paisley, the current director of Grace Kitchen.

Grace Kitchen currently serves approximately 80 meals during each service and has served as many as 140 meals in a single evening. The program is made possible entirely through the dedication of community volunteers who donate their time to prepare, serve, and support its operations.

The mission of Grace Kitchen is to help alleviate food insecurity affecting residents of Alleghany County. In addition to providing meals, Matthew has worked to source the majority of the program’s fresh produce from local farmers, supporting both the community’s food needs and the local agricultural economy.

The Alleghany County Community Foundation recently awarded a $4,000 grant to this organization, but aside from grant funding, Grace Kitchen relies heavily on public donations, which range from as little as $5 to as much as $2,000. According to the staff, one of the organization’s greatest challenges is the continued rise in food prices, which increases the cost of serving meals while demand remains high.

Looking ahead, Grace Kitchen has launched a new monthly “Grab Bag.” Each month, they purchase groceries and prepare 50 grocery bags on a first-come, first-served basis. Each bag typically includes eggs, meat, bread, and a variety of in-season fruits and vegetables.

My visit provided valuable insight into the important work being done by Grace Kitchen and highlighted the dedication of its staff, volunteers, donors, and community partners in serving Alleghany County.