Love Kitchen portrait by artist Michael Day.
Helen and Ellen are the twin sisters who opened and run the Love Kitchen.
This spring they received an unexpected gift.
The Love Kitchen provides meals and more to the homeless and homebound.
The sisters who founded the East Knoxville non-profit inspire countless people with their love, faith, and generosity.
They inspired a stranger named Michael Day.
"I'm a housekeeper at Club LaConte and I work a part time job at the Cisco plant," Michael Day said.
He's also an artist who started painting when he was a child.
"I do landscapes and portraits," he said. "As I kept doing it and doing it got better, I just got better."
This spring he came to the Love Kitchen with a gift for the sisters: a portrait.
"I saw them on TV and I saw them in a news clipping and they do a they're doing a good thing and I just wanted to do something for them," Day explained.
Helen Ashe said, "We didn't even know him and he walks in with this beautiful picture."
The painting is based on a newspaper photo.
Helen Ashe and Ellen Turner promptly put it in their Love Kitchen office.
Michael Day had not seen the sisters before that day or since.
His wife, Robin, came along with a camera to capture the recent happy reunion.
Ellen Turner said , "I tell you the truth, on the picture I don't know me from my sister. I'm five minutes older than she is but I can't tell which one I am."
Helen chimed in, "Yeah but I am twice your size you know what I mean so I'm the boss."
Michael Day has exhibited his paintings at several art shows and hopes to do more, though Helen and Ellen have other plans for his extra time.
Helen whispered to Robin, "Is he a cook?"
She confirmed, "He can cook."
Michael Day protested, "I can't boil water."
Helen said, "But you can make up 5,000 corn muffins. Water doesn't even have to be involved in it."
Helen and Ellen were once again working their charm at the Love Kitchen. They give of themselves every day and sometimes they get a gift in return.
"God bless you all for a happy life," Helen wished the newlywed couple.
Ellen added, "One thing he is going to do, and his wife is backing us up, he is going to make 5,000 corn muffins for the Love Kitchen."
Helen said, "You'll be proud darling. Robin, you'll be proud."