Despite the frigid temperatures that have blanketed the state the past few days, Hot Springs Volunteers and Grace Church will still be hosting a free meal today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hot Springs Farmers & Artisans Market, 121 Orange St.
"Things are looking great," James Whitten, founder of Hot Springs Volunteers, said. "The temperature is going to affect maybe some of their older volunteers, and I've recommended to a few of them, 'Hey, listen, we're gonna have plenty of volunteers; just stay home if you don't want to be out in the cold.'
"Man, I love it when the weather's bad because what I'm doing is really building volunteers. It's not just about serving the homeless; it's about getting people out there to volunteer and getting them into the volunteer spirit."
Whitten's group joined forces with Grace Church Pastor Lamar Trieschmann for Thanksgiving, and the two decided to work together again for Christmas. Whitten said donations have also come in from businesses to help make this a success.
"We've got a big smoker going to be going at Lamar's house the night before," Whitten said. "We've got donations coming in of a bunch of different foods. A few different restaurants and places have volunteered to help out and bring some food. We've got a local moving company, Trinity Moving, to move all the tables and chairs for us and help with that."
While the temperatures could keep some people away from today's meal, Whitten said he hopes to serve 250 meals.
"Everything's gonna go as planned," he said. "We're hoping to feed 250. We'll probably send out at least 150."
The son of a Baptist preacher, Whitten is used to helping feed people on Christmas.
"On Christmas Day and days like that, it'd be the whole day," he said. "You were out there, it was potluck, and you had a couple hundred people out there bringing all these different kinds of food and everything. Kids (were) out there playing everything, and it was a community thing. I'd just love to bring that to Hot Springs."
Despite the low temperatures forecast for this morning, Whitten said he is glad it is in a place that is open and visible.
"I prefer the open air because it's much more visible," he said. "You're there with them where they are, in their environment, versus in church or somewhere else. People aren't as likely to sometimes want to go in there. When you're out in the elements then you're out there with them, and that's one of the main keys of the whole thing.
"Just think about it: when you're out there, and you've never volunteered before, and you go out there because your mom, your grandma or somebody drug you out there. You're freezing, you're cold, and you've got to be out there four hours, and you meet some guy who's got to live out there every day, it opens up the compassion. ... You understand it better when you're there versus being in a big kitchen somewhere and everything's warm and cozy and dry."