Food first. Questions never.
Mercy Mile is a ministry of Middletown's churches. We believe nobody should have to prove they are hungry.
One truck and a pot of chili
In 2016, Pastor Leon Whitaker bought a retired bread truck for $3,200 and parked it behind Eastside Chapel. He filled it with a stove, a sink and a pot of chili. That Saturday, 41 people ate.
Word spread by phone and by porch. Within a year, we were cooking five days a week for stops at the rec center, library and two apartment complexes. We added a second driver, then a third.
Today the truck rolls six days a week with a rotating crew of 120 volunteers. The meal has not changed. It is still hot, still free and still served with a smile.
How we serve
No barriers
No ID, no sign-up, no sermon. Take a plate.
Real food
We cook from scratch with fresh ingredients.
Show up
If the truck says Tuesday at noon, it is there.
Everyone eats
Same plate, same line, same dignity for all.
How we got here
A few moments that shaped who we are today.
Eastside Chapel
One truck, one pot of chili, 41 plates.
Five days a week
Stops added at the library and two apartment complexes.
Second kitchen
A donated church kitchen doubles our prep capacity.
34,000 meals
Six days, 11 stops and 120 volunteers.
The crew
Founder and PastorLeon Whitaker
Drives on Saturdays and answers the phone on every other day.
Head ChefRosa Delgado
Writes the menu and makes the greens people ask about.
Route ManagerAndre Mitchell
Plans the stops and keeps the truck on time.
Volunteer CoordinatorMaya Chen
Schedules 120 volunteers into six days of service.
What we stand on
- Feeding the hungry is part of following Jesus.
- Every person bears God's image.
- Food is the start of conversation, not payment for it.
- We serve alongside the churches of Middletown.
- Mercy is a verb.
One dollar feeds one neighbor
Check the schedule, pick a stop and come hungry. Here is what to expect.