One man’s dream grows to feed a community

Matt Larson met people less fortunate when he volunteered as a mentor to young men while still in college.

It sparked a dream in him to help others and that dream has grown into a community-changing reality this year.

Larson is among those who have spent the past several months orchestrating a community wide Christmas Dinner. At last count, Larson estimates that some 600 meals will be served Christmas Day.

“This is something I always wanted to do ever since I was in college at Florida State,” Larson said. “I never had the resources or the backing but now that the restaurant has done well, we are in a position to do this,” the co-owner of Annie’s Restaurant on Main Street in Enterprise said. “We have faithful customers and great citizens in the Enterprise community.”

Larson’s project began as a post on a social media site announcing that Annie’s Café would be providing hot meals for those in need on Christmas Day.

The feedback he received was astonishing, he said. “This turned into a huge deal.”

Larson said that some plans fell through. “So, we got started kind of late and considered waiting until next year,” he said. “But by the first of November, we decided to just go for it.”

Trina Shelton from the Enterprise Housing Authority, Judy Crowley from Coffee County Family Services, Lisa Fenner from Medical Center Enterprise and George Scott from Enterprise State Community College have been coordinating with Larson.

Hillcrest Baptist Church donated its kitchen and fellowship hall for a space to serve food, box meals and be a regrouping point for deliveries. “We’re so thankful to them for doing this,” Larson said. “At first we were going to be doing all this from underneath a tent.”

Ed Sherling Ford and Sam Boswell Honda have donated transport vehicles for some of the food distribution. Countless individuals and area businesses have donated food, drinks and financial resources to make this event happen, Larson said.

Families served by Coffee County Family Services, First Choice Hospice in Elba and military members who aren’t able to return home for the holidays are some of the planned recipients of the Christmas dinners, Larson said. Emergency first responders who have to be on duty Christmas Day will also be the recipients of the Christmas dinners.

“I promise you that I’ve been working 50-60 hours every week on this to insure that we get this food in the right hands,” Larson said. “The response we’ve been getting is just amazing.

“We have great people in this community that want to give back and want to do great things for others,” Larson said. “Sometimes we get caught up helping in other places when people in our own backyard need help.

“I would like to thank everyone for all their help, prayers, kindness and donations to our first ever community Christmas dinner,” Larson said. “This is something that we hope to grow every year. “We also hope to fight hunger and provide some small meals to those in dire circumstances in our community throughout the rest of the year,” Larson said, adding that a Christmas in July may be his next endeavor.

“I guess God gave me the ability to cook and the ability to coordinate,” Larson said. “So why not use that ability to provide some meals just trying to keep the hunger away.”