Ashley Dukart

Munsey Memorial Lay Pastor: Patty Muse

Contact: (423) 461-8070
Release on December 10, 2012

Melting Pot offers more than a hot meal

In a renovated gym in downtown Johnson City there is a sign that
dangles outside two double-doors reading The Melting Pot. This sign
welcomes hungry residents of the city and willing volunteers to the
Melting Pots kitchen.
The Melting Pot was started in March of 1998, and has seen a lot
of changes since then. Today, Second Harvest Food Bank partners with
the Melting Pot to bring in donated food items. Lowes Home
Improvement of Johnson City and Jonesborough revamped the
converted gym in 2011 by repainting and adding new storage spaces.
The food supply and building are not the only changes. The people
being served have changed over the years. While some residents have
been coming since the start, leaders and volunteers see new faces
every week.
Daily the Melting Pot provides food for the homeless or lowincome residents of Johnson City. During the week a light breakfast
and hot lunch are prepared, and on Saturday mornings a large, hot
breakfast is served. The breakfast line starts forming at 8 a.m. and the
lunch line begins at 11:30 a.m.

Ashley Dukart
The Melting Pot is a public dining room run by the Good
Samaritan Ministries of Johnson City. The dining room is downtown at
Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church across from the John Sevier
Center.
Patty Muse, who works in local outreach through Munsey
Memorial, said her favorite aspect of the Melting Pot is seeing how
much everyone has to offer. Those who eat here have a great sense
of humor, despite their conditions. Laughter is good, chuckled Muse.
She has been working with the Melting Pot ministry for the last twoand-a-half years.
Munsey Memorials website says the Melting Pot offers the
opportunity to serve not only our homeless population, but alsothe
residents of John Sevier Residential Housing. The John Sevier Center is
conveniently located across the street from the church.
Munsey Memorial is not the only church to partner with the
Melting Pot ministry. The Methodist church provides the dining room
and some volunteers, while 25 other local churches have set up times
to volunteer and serve. All of the meals vary depending on the church
serving that day.
Currently, college students from Milligan College, East Tennessee
State, and Northeast Community College volunteer their time at the
Melting Pot. For a little over two years Caleb Friddell, a junior at
Milligan, has served in the downtown kitchen. Service should be a part

Ashley Dukart
of our lives as Christians, Friddell adds, [Service] is attending to
others in all aspects of life.
Word is getting out about the Melting Pots impact in the Johnson
City area and people are responding. The response comes from those
who need the food and from those who are willing to volunteer.
Muse has a bit of advice for those who want to help the Melting
Pot by volunteering, We have to quit seeing ourselves [volunteers] as
better and that theyre the ones in need.

Melting Pot Boilerplate

The Melting Pot is run under the purpose of Good Samaritan
Ministries: to contribute to the support of the ministry of Jesus Christ
to provide relief for the poor, the sick and the destitute...to assist in
raising funds for the general purpose and doctrines of Jesus Christ
(Good Samaritan Charter of Incorporation).
The Melting Pot is open Monday through Friday for breakfast and
lunch, Saturdays for breakfast, and Sundays for worship with coffee
and pastries. The Melting Pot receives assistance from Second Harvest
Food Bank. Food donations for the Melting Pot can be dropped off
during any weekday or at the Good Samaritan pantry found on 100
North Roan Street.

Ashley Dukart
For more information on the Melting Pot visit,
http://www.munsey.org/553791 .