Serving a meal at the Ruth Ellis Center

For many months a team from First United Methodist Church of Birmingham has been serving a once-a-month supper at the Ruth Ellis Center. Other congregations have noticed and are beginning to ask how they might do the same.

The Ruth Ellis Center is a place dear to me. I've been a kitchen volunteer there on most Wednesdays for five years. The Center is a place for runaway, homeless, and at-risk sexual minority youth. It is a place where they might receive a wide variety of services from an evening meal (where I help), free clothes, a place to shower and do laundry, a variety of counseling and mental health services, computer and internet access, job search training, a safe place to hang out with their friends (you should watch them dance!), and whatever else they might need to make it unto adulthood. The associated Ruth's House provides living space and guidance for homeless youth. When I heard about the Ruth Ellis Center I knew it was a place that filled a great need and I knew I had to help make it happen.

1st UMC Birmingham has a team that has committed to showing up once a month. If you are interested in providing a meal you might try it once before choosing a regular schedule. Supper is served on Monday and Wednesday evenings starting about 5:15.

You may contact me (Paul Kinney) at

if you have questions about serving at the center. You may also leave a comment to this blog post.

You may contact Rich Teets, a leader of the Birmingham team, at

if you have questions about how to create a team and what they do to prepare, deliver, and serve food.

You may contact Henry Walker, program director at the center, at

to schedule a date (we wouldn't want two fine meals to show up on the same evening). Henry would be glad to tell you what other materials (such as clothing) and supplies (such as dish soap) you might donate to the Center. He would also be delighted with monetary donations.

If you come on a Wednesday I'll be delighted to welcome you into my kitchen.