‘Feeding Our Neighbors’ Continues Local Effort to Provide Free Meals in Front Royal

A long-running community meal program is continuing under a new name, with the same mission: ensuring no one in the community goes hungry.

Michael Williams, interim pastor at First Baptist Church in Front Royal, and community volunteer Walt Mabe recently spoke about the effort, now called “Feeding Our Neighbors,” which provides free meals several evenings each week.

The program evolved from an earlier initiative, “Dinner Together,” developed around 2018–2019 during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, restrictions prevented people from gathering inside churches for shared meals, so organizers created a system to prepare and distribute food safely.

Over time, the program became a nonprofit collaboration involving multiple churches and volunteers who coordinated meal preparation and distribution.

In 2026, organizers simplified the structure and placed the program directly under the umbrella of First Baptist Church, where the meals are prepared and distributed.

“We realized that First Baptist could serve as the hub and make things simpler,” Williams said. “The goal hasn’t changed. If someone is hungry, we want to feed them.”

The church’s central location and commercial-grade kitchen make it well-suited to serve as the distribution center. The program operates under strict health and food safety standards, including ServSafe training and guidelines from the health department.

Volunteers prepare meals that are distributed Monday through Thursday from 5 to 6 p.m. The meals are packaged for takeout, allowing people to quickly pick up food without needing to stay on site.

Typically, the program serves 60 to 75 meals per evening, though some nights have served more than 100.

“It’s what we call a low-barrier program,” Mabe explained. “We don’t ask questions. If someone is hungry, they get fed.”

The effort relies heavily on partnerships across the community. Churches and organizations take turns providing meals or helping with preparation and distribution.

Among the groups that regularly participate are:

• St. John the Baptist Catholic Church
• Front Royal United Presbyterian Church
• Front Royal United Methodist Church
• Calvary Episcopal Church
• Grace Baptist Fellowship
• Warren Community Works
• Front Royal & Warren County Rotary Clubs
• Local Ruritan clubs

In addition, New Hope Bible Church plays a major role by serving as a distribution hub for food supplies that support the program.

Mabe, who has worked for years on hunger issues in the community, said food insecurity remains a real concern even when it isn’t obvious.

“It’s not always visible,” Williams said. “People aren’t lined up down the street as you might imagine, but the need is still there.”

His work in local schools revealed just how many families struggle to put food on the table. Programs like Backpack Buddies and school meal initiatives expanded significantly during the pandemic to ensure students had enough food during weekends and school closures.

“As a student, my favorite day was a day off,” Williams said. “But as an educator, the day off was when I worried most, because I wanted to make sure kids had food at home.”

Community support has been strong, Williams said, with churches, volunteers, and donors all contributing to keep the program running.

Residents who want to help can contribute financially or volunteer.

Donations can be made by writing a check to First Baptist Church of Front Royal with “Feeding Our Neighbors” in the memo line. Organizers note that financial contributions allow them to purchase more food through partnerships with regional food banks.

“Every dollar goes toward feeding people,” Mabe said.

Mabe added that the community’s willingness to work together has been the key to the program’s success.

“It’s seeing the love this community has for one another,” he said. “When people see a need, they step up.”

Organizers also encourage residents to reach out if they know someone struggling with food insecurity. In many cases, assistance can be arranged within a day.

The mission, they said, remains simple.

“If someone is hungry,” Mabe said, “we’re going to feed them.”

For more information, contact Michael Williams at michaelwilliamsfrbc@gmail.com or 540-635-2122

Town Talk, sponsored by National Media Services, Inc., is a Royal Examiner series that introduces you to local entrepreneurs, business owners, nonprofit leaders, and public officials who help shape Warren County. Conversations cover a wide range of topics about our community and the people making a difference.