The free midday meals offered at Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church in Denver’s City Park neighborhood have plates filled high with plenty of vegetables and fruits, but don’t expect to find red meat or poultry on the menu.
The meatless meals are a way for the church and the Georgia I. Knox Foundation to not only eradicate hunger but also introduce Latinos and blacks to vegan-style eating.
“So many of us are on medications for high cholesterol and hypertension,” said Mount Caramel Pastor Jimmy McGee. “We want to teach people how to eat a little better.”
And McGee would know. He said he has wrestled with high blood pressure and high cholesterol readings, but those numbers have been lower since he began exercising and making healthier food choices. Feeding the homeless and poor has always been a mission for Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church parishioners, but serving food in a healthful — if meatless — way began in August.
About 75 people typically dine during the free, hot vegan meals, served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at the church, 2575 Vine St. Most of the patrons live nearby. Some receive a bus ride to the church.
Some of the menu staples, McGee said, include black-eyed peas, red beans and brown rice dishes, along with an assortment of raw and cooked vegetables and a variety of fruits. “We have a heart for single parents, for the homeless and those who are destitute,” McGee said. “We want to reach out to the needs of the community.”
Annette Espinoza: 303-954-1655 or aespinoza@denverpost.com
