Jimmy Miles remembers the first time he volunteered at a charitable organization.

“My boss at UPS in Hattiesburg was always involved with Habitat For Humanity and volunteered us to help him. Once I started doing it, I liked it,” Miles said.

That was in 2006. Fast forward 10 years and Miles is continuing to help those in need. Only now he doesn’t need any prodding from his current UPS supervisor. Miles volunteers serving lunch every third Saturday at Love’s Kitchen. 

“I enjoyed giving something back to the community,” Miles said of his time with Habitat, which helps build or remodel homes for those in need. “Once we moved here in 2011, we were going to work with Habitat but there were no Habitat homes being built. I started looking around to find some other projects.”

Miles said that was when Love’s Kitchen Executive Director Fannie Johnson stepped in.

“Fannie came to my work place and told us about Love’s Kitchen, which is supported by the United Way. I’ve always had a heart for people who may have a need to be fed or were hungry,” Miles said. “We had about 20 people start with me, including my wife. Through attrition, it’s down to me now.”

MIles’ wife, Pamela, recently died after 34 years of marriage.

Miles volunteers serving lunch from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. once a month at Love’s Kitchen and has done so since he moved to Meridian. Approximately 100 clients eat lunch there, he said. Some of Miles’ other duties at Love’s Kitchen include setting up before clients arrive and cleaning up afterward.

“Jimmy Miles is one of the best, most loyal, hard-working volunteers we’ve ever had,” Johnson said. “He gets along with everybody, including clients and board members. He’s just such a joy to have around. We appreciate all he’s done for us through the years.”

Love’s Kitchen supervisor Roy Gully also appreciates Miles.

“Jimmy is a very good person. He is a very good volunteer. He comes every chance he gets,” Gully said.

Miles, 55, said the time giving to those in need is worthwhile.

“Most of the time I serve the food. It’s not much but in a small way I can give back to the community. It’s a sacrifice every third Saturday because you are taking away some of your personal time, but you know you’re not only helping Love’s Kitchen itself but helping others who may be in need and putting something back into the community,” Miles said. “You also get to make some friends and kind of develop a relationship with them. That’s relationships you wouldn’t have if you didn’t come to volunteer.”

Miles said volunteering is something you have to plan.

“The hours you give to community volunteering is time you make time for,” Miles said. “You don’t have any spare time to commit to it, but just have to make the time to be dedicated to the commitment.”

MIles said he’ll be volunteering at Love’s Kitchen for the foreseeable future.

“I’m committed to Love’s Kitchen for as long as I’m a part of this community,” Miles said. “I also do a lot of work at my church, Agape Storehouse Church.”

Miles said the children who come through to be fed at Love’s Kitchen with their parents pulls at his heartstrings. He has two children of his own.

My kids have never been hungry. I know Love’s Kitchen feeds adults and allows adults to feed their children so they won’t have to see their children walking around hungry here,” Miles said. “Love’s Kitchen does a good job.”    

Nominate a volunteer

The Meridian Star is featuring a series on volunteers in the community daily during Thanksgiving week. We’ll continue the series on a less frequent basis after Thanksgiving. To nominate a volunteer for consideration, send an email to editor@themeridianstar.com and use the word “volunteers” in the subject line.