Shelbyville church launching new program to feed local children

The Ville Church is excited to announce the launch of its new community program, "Serving Hope," aimed at providing a hot meal and enrichment activities for children in the Shelbyville community.

Starting today, the program will run weekly from 5 to 7 p.m. at The Ville Church, 1115 St. Joseph St. in Shelbyville, offering a safe and welcoming environment for children up to 18 years of age.

“Serving Hope” was inspired by the experience of Pastor Max Southern, who previously served as Executive Pastor at Bluff First in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Southern’s vision is to create a space where no child in our community goes hungry and where they can build positive, healthy relationships.

While this is not an after-school care program, it is designed to address the immediate need of ensuring that every child has access to a hot, nutritious meal and a safe place to belong.

“We believe that no child should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from,” said Southern. “This program is about more than just food; it’s about creating a nurturing environment where kids can connect with each other and our community in meaningful ways.”

Each Thursday evening, children can enjoy a free meal, followed by an educational enrichment activity designed to promote learning and engagement. Parents are welcome to join their children for dinner for a nominal fee of $5, but it is not required for parents to attend.

 The program is fully open to all children, whether or not they are accompanied by an adult.

Southern hopes to see the program grow from a once-a-week gathering to a five-day-a-week initiative, ensuring that children in Shelbyville have consistent access to nutritious meals and supportive community connections.

This meal program is just the beginning of an exciting transformation at The Ville. The church, which has seen exponential growth in the two years since its founding in Shelbyville, has recently purchased the building of Town and Country Church to expand its ministry.

Plans for the new facility include the development of a much-needed daycare center in this community, which has been identified as a daycare desert. Additionally, the current location of The Ville is envisioned to evolve into a vibrant community center serving the westside of Shelbyville.

“The need is great, and so is our commitment to meeting that need,” Southern added. “We are here to serve, and we’re just getting started.”

For more information about “Serving Hope” or to get involved, please visit http://www.villechurch.org.

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