What are the opening hours?

Monday 10am - 4pm Tuesday 10am - 4pm Wednesday 10am - 4pm Thursday 10am - 4pm

The Love Kitchen

Home
United States
Knoxville, TN
The Love Kitchen

Contribute to our cause: https://thelovekitchen.org/donations/donate-to-the-love-kitchen/ Never take the last piece of bread.

In 1984, Helen Ashe first dreamed of creating a program to serve the needy of Knoxville. One day as she was watching television she saw a soup line operated by the Church Street United Methodist Church and she knew then what her mission was to be. Her twin sister, Ellen, quickly shared in her excitement and joined in her new quest. The sisters, born in Abbeville, South Carolina, feel that the conc

ept of The Love Kitchen has always been with them in the ideals instilled by their parents. Ellen and Helen are very thankful for the teachings of their parents and will always remember the three "truths" their father taught them:

* 1. Someone may come by in need of it.
* 2. There is only one race, the human race.
* 3. There is only one Father and that is the Father in Heaven. Helen and Ellen's dream became a reality in the basement of a small church in February 1986. The first day the Love Kitchen opened its doors, they served 22 meals. Today The Love Kitchen prepares over 2,000 meals each week and more than eighty percent of these meals are delivered to homebound recipients. On Wednesdays there is an in-house breakfast served and emergency food bags prepared and distributed. Thursdays, an in-house lunch is also served and preparations continue for homebound meal deliveries. In 2001, The Love Kitchen celebrated the "dawn" of The Love Kitchen Community Center. This center will offer training classes and be a "safe haven" for Knoxville's underprivileged children.

05/04/2026

We are incredibly grateful to share that The Love Kitchen has served over 50,000 meals so far this year! 🍽️❤️

Each meal represents more than food — it’s hope, compassion, and a reminder that no one in our community is forgotten.

This milestone would not be possible without the unwavering support of our volunteers, donors, and partners. Because of you, thousands of our neighbors are being nourished in body and spirit every single day.

Thank you for standing with us and helping us continue this mission. Together, we are all making a difference — one meal at a time. 🙏

04/28/2026

🎶 What a weekend it was in downtown Knoxville! 🎉

The Love Kitchen was honored to be part of the incredible Knoxville Opera's Rossini Festival on April 18 & 19—one of East Tennessee’s most vibrant celebrations of music, food, and community. With thousands gathering for live performances, artisan vendors, and international flavors, the energy was unforgettable.

From sharing our mission to connecting with neighbors and visitors, this weekend reminded us what community is all about—coming together to lift one another up. 💛

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who stopped by, supported, and showed love. Because of you, we can continue serving meals, hope, and compassion to those who need it most.

04/08/2026

With hearts full of gratitude, we want to extend a special thank you to Shades of Development and their incredible students!

Through their creativity, hard work, and generosity, these students hand-crafted beautiful items and sold them to raise funds in support of The Love Kitchen. What an inspiring example of compassion in action!

Your efforts are making a real difference in the lives of those we serve, and we are so thankful for your partnership and kind hearts.

Together, we are spreading love, one act of kindness at a time.

04/05/2026

This Easter, we celebrate the hope, renewal, and new life made possible through love that overcomes all things.

At The Love Kitchen, Easter reminds us that every act of kindness—every meal shared, every hand extended—carries the promise of new beginnings. Together, we can bring light into the lives of those who need it most.

May your day be filled with peace, joy, and the warmth of renewed hope.

04/03/2026

On this Good Friday, we pause to remember the depth of love, sacrifice, and grace shown to us all.

At The Love Kitchen, we are reminded that even in the hardest moments, there is hope—and through compassion and service, we can be that hope for others. Today, we reflect on the power of selfless love and recommit ourselves to caring for our neighbors in need.

May this day bring peace to your heart and renew your spirit.

03/17/2026

🍀 A Little Luck, A Lot of Love 🍀

This St. Patrick’s Day, we’re feeling extra lucky—not because of four-leaf clovers, but because of a community that shows up with big hearts and helping hands. 💚

At The Love Kitchen, every meal shared is a small bit of magic. A warm plate, a friendly smile, and a reminder that kindness is always in season.

So today, may your coffee be strong, your corned beef be tender, and your heart be full of the same spirit of generosity that makes our mission possible. ☘️

Here’s to neighbors helping neighbors and to spreading a little Irish cheer wherever we go!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

02/26/2026

On February 14th, we celebrated 40 incredible years of The Love Kitchen at Lighthouse Knoxville — and what a night it was!

For four decades, The Love Kitchen has served our community with compassion, dignity, and heart — and this anniversary celebration was a beautiful reflection of that legacy. The room was filled with friends, supporters, volunteers, and stories that reminded us why this mission matters so much.

A huge thank you to Smooth Sailor for playing the night away and keeping the dance floor full! From the first note to the last song, the energy was unforgettable.

We are so grateful to everyone who joined us at to celebrate the past 40 years — and to those who continue to help us look ahead to the next 40. Here’s to love, service, and community.

02/25/2026

We’re incredibly grateful for the generosity of Knox County Parks & Rec, Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, and the Knox County community! 🎄✨

A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who participated in Christmas at the Cove and contributed canned goods and monetary donations in support of The Love Kitchen. Your kindness helps provide meals and hope to our neighbors in need, and we are honored to play a small part in that mission.

Because of you, this year’s event was a wonderful success — filled with holiday spirit, community connection, and the true meaning of giving back. Thank you for making a lasting impact right here at home. ❤️

02/14/2026

Happy Valentine’s Day from The Love Kitchen ❤️

Today is a perfect day for our name, our mission, and a huge milestone. On this Valentine’s Day, The Love Kitchen turns 40 years old! For four decades, we’ve been sharing love in its truest form, through warm meals, compassion, dignity, and community.

Valentine’s Day is about caring for one another, and that’s what this place has been built on since day one. We are endlessly grateful for the volunteers, donors, and neighbors who have made these 40 years possible by choosing love again and again.

This Valentine’s Day, share a table, a meal, and your heart with someone you love.❤️ Here’s to 40 years of love with many more to come.

02/04/2026

Love is in the air... and we want to celebrate it with YOU 💖

Join us as The Love Kitchen celebrates 40 years of serving our Knoxville community with compassion, dignity, and hope. This unforgettable evening will feature a romantic dinner, an amazing yacht rock concert performed by Smooth Sailor, and most importantly, giving the gift of hope to the neighbors we serve every day.

Come celebrate love, music, and four decades of impact. Let’s honor the past, celebrate the present, and help fuel the future of The Love Kitchen together.

The final day to purchase tickets is Feb 6th!

https://www.freshtix.com/events/the-love-kitchens-40th-anniversary

01/29/2026

We extend our sincere thanks to The Honey Baked Ham Company for their generous donation of 640 pounds of ham to The Love Kitchen.

This contribution will help us continue our mission of serving our community with compassion, dignity, and care. We are deeply grateful for partners like The Honey Baked Ham Co. whose generosity makes a meaningful impact on the lives of those we serve.

Thank you for your continued support of our work.

Address

2418 Martin Luther King Jr Avenue
Knoxville, TN
37915

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 4pm
Tuesday	10am - 4pm
Wednesday	10am - 4pm
Thursday	10am - 4pm

Telephone

+18655463248

Website

http://www.thelovekitchen.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Love Kitchen posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to The Love Kitchen:

Shortcuts

Address
Telephone
Opening Hours
Alerts
Contact The Organization
Claim ownership or report listing

Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization in Knoxville?