When Middletown’s Louella Thompson announced her plans to feed the hungry of Southwestern Ohio, there were those who said it couldn’t be done. Five years and 75,000 meals later, people are wondering how she did it. With $15.00 and an unshakable faith, Thompson opened her heart and home to the 200 individuals lined up at her back door on that first day in September, 1987.

With the help of a well-organized crew of volunteers, Thompson’s Feed the Hungry Project provides up to 12 carry-out meals the fourth Saturday of each month. She also provides a daily breakfast, serving about 50 people in the dining room of her home each day. Although the organization has acquired a distinguished board of advisers, tax-exempt status and a license from the local health department, Thompson steadfastly refuses any type of help from the government.

Relying completely on donations and volunteers, she has received support from businesses, students, individuals, churches, inmates and civic groups from a tri-state area. More than $100,000 has been raised to purchase land and construct a new building to house a kitchen, dining facility, meeting room and space for recycled clothing to be distributed to the needy twice a week.

Thompson, the soft-spoken great grandmother of seven, has been the recipient of numerous honors, including the J.C. Penny Golden Globe Award, The Butler County YWCA Outstanding Woman of the Year Achievement Award and the Governor’s Ohio Humanitarian Award..

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