Volunteers show love to the Love Kitchen

The Love Kitchen is the perfect name for a charity that helps so many, and it's all made possible by the volunteers.

The kitchen was created by two very special women, Helen Ashe and Ellen Turner.

"They're lovely. When I first met them, I could just feel the love, the compassion they have for the people," said volunteer Harvey Turman.

More than two decades ago, Helen and Ellen started the Love Kitchen and ever since, they've been cooking.

"The Love Kitchen takes care of the five h's which is the hungry, the homeless, the helpless, the hopeless, and the home bound," said Ashe.

And let's not forget heart. It's behind everything these volunteers do.

"It's such an inspiration. Everybody here is a volunteer. Nobody gets paid anything. You know that's a blessing," said Ashe.

From cooking up popcorn chicken to cleaning dishes to serving those in need, these volunteers forget themselves and think about others for two days a week.

"I just can't stand to think about people going hungry," said volunteer Lowell Thomas.

"There's a need. If we are in a position that we can help, I think we should do whatever we can to help those in need," said Turman.

The Love Kitchen serves 6,000 meals a week, and now it's the one in need.

"Right now we are going through a pretty rough time, because the requests are increasing, but the donations are decreasing, so we don't want to turn anybody away," said Ashe.

"Our utility bills and things like that that are increasing, and this is what we need money for, just daily operation," said Turner.

Helen and Ellen are thankful for all the community support, the people who give their money, their time, and of course their love.

"It is such an inspiration, honey to come and do what we're doing. It's like therapy to us," says Ashe.

WBIR, WIVK, and Panera Bread have joined together in an effort called "Round Up the Dough to Benefit the Love Kitchen." From November 9-November 23, you can make donations at Knoxville-area Panera Bread locations--you may even see WBIR personalities there to round up the dough.