Marguerite Peyton has a plan to spread Christmas spirit.
"One way to do it is through giving," she said.
On Wednesday, Peyton ladled steaming soup into bowls at the Greenwood Community Kitchen.
Peyton and her missionary group from Stranger's Home Baptist Church serve every third Wednesday of a month. "But people really need help the most around Christmas," she said.
Today is the two-year anniversary of the soup kitchen on Johnson Street. Since its inception, the kitchen has served 88,104 meals over 525 days.
Before the facilities opened on Johnson Street, the soup kitchen operated out of First Presbyterian Church.
Executive Director Carlee Bailey recalled delivering meals that Christmas. "Everyone was glad to be served," she said.
Bailey credits the entire Greenwood community for keeping the kitchen afloat.
The Greenwood-Itta Bena alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta also came out Wednesday to serve hot meals. Members mentor and tutor school-age girls. Dawn Stamps brought several of the girls to the kitchen. "We really try to stress volunteering in the community," she said.
The sorority also made centerpieces and decorations for the tables in the kitchen. On one wall hangs a large banner with reindeer proclaiming "Merry Christmas." Reindeer faces also sit atop the tables.
Both the girls and the mentors cannot always make it out to volunteer because of work and school. Christmas break is the best time to do it, Stamps explained.
Candace Keys, 11, was one of the young helpers. Keys said volunteering was a chance to get out of the house. "I just wanted to help."
The kitchen will serve Christmas dinner on Friday. It will be closed on Monday so volunteers can clean.
