HICKORY, N.C. — A few months ago, in the middle of the pandemic, Megan Exxon thought she would cook some extra meals and take them to the soup kitchen, which is closed on Sundays to help feed some of the city's homeless families.
What she discovered was dozens of families needing a warm meal on the weekends. Exxon says the Hickory Soup Kitchen does not serve hot meals on Sunday.
The first week she made a few dozen, then realized she needed to make at 50 meals, then the number grew week to week. Exxon is now making 200 meals on Sundays.
With help from friends and volunteers, Exxon packs the meals into several cars. The caravan then heads for Hickory, where they make several stops around town where families are now waiting for their meals from Exxon.
To distinguish themselves, the cars tie pink scarves around their side mirrors. Exxon says as word gets out, families know to look for the pink scarves waving in the wind every Sunday.
Exxon not only provides a warm meal for these families, she also helps them get jobs, and provides them with warm clothes in the winter by donating jackets and gloves.
In February, with help from some community partners, Exxon hosted a coat drive, donating dozens of coats for children.
Exxon has named her weekly adventure, "The Hickory Kindness Project."
A Facebook group provides updates on events, and also asks for donations for the meal of the week. Community businesses, including Lowe's Foods and Panera Bread, help with supplying food.
Exxon says this project has helped fill her heart, which was aching after losing her sister and husband.
"I started doing it in July because, so I lost my sister six years ago to colon rectal cancer, and I lost my husband Christmas Eve two years ago, and nothing has healed my heart. This is the first thing that I found that has made me feel any better,” Exxon says.
Coming up in April, she is hosting an Easter Meal for families. They still need volunteers. The event will be at the Budget Motel on the front lawn on April 4 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 pm.