Volunteer Story: Charles Storne & Friends

Every Saturday at 1:00 am, Charles Storne gets out of bed, heads to his church, opens up the kitchen, and begins cooking breakfast. His volunteer team of friends and family arrive around 2:30 am and they make nine pots of grits, ten pans of hash browns, 70 dozen eggs, and lots of turkey sausage. Over the next few hours, Charles and his team deliver this homemade breakfast to four different shelters around Atlanta, including The Shepherd’s Inn, Atlanta Mission’s downtown overnight campus for men. 

Charles has been serving breakfast to men and women facing homelessness since 1988. “I guess it’s part of my DNA,” says Charles. “I’ve been doing it for such a long time, and my family has always been volunteer oriented.” Charles’ main goal is to build relationships with the men he encounters. “We’re not here to just feed one, we’re trying to give them some hope.” 

“Charles and his friends are true heroes,” says Hannah Richardson, Atlanta Mission staff member. “Their dedication and hearts for the Lord are truly inspiring.” He and his team are always on time, rain or shine, to serve breakfast to the men at The Shepherd’s Inn. Not only are they serving our clients, but they clean up after they serve so our kitchen staff can take a break.

Over the years, Charles has built relationships with many of the men he has served. It’s important to him to make the men feel seen and known. “Occasionally I’ll have a meeting downtown, and I’ll see one of the guys I’ve served or he’ll see me and, we’ll say ‘Hey!’. And people say, ‘How do you know him?’ I’m like, ‘Well, why wouldn’t I know him? He’s my friend.’”