By Adam Smith

The North Jefferson News



An area ministry, in conjunction with a hamburger chain, has helped feed hundreds of homeless men, women and children since November.

In November, Pinson native Brittney Barnett linked up with Hamburger Heaven for the “Hamburgers for the Homeless” project, which distributed food to the Jimmie Hale Mission and Jesse’s Place and the Lovelady Center in Birmingham.

Barnett, a volunteer at homeless shelters downtown, began a homeless outreach with Whosoever Ministries, a non-profit organization with a mission to reach souls for Jesus Christ and to equip men and women for ministry in everyday life.

She then contacted family friend Allen Folse about joining her in a project that would help feed the homeless. Folse then got the other Hamburger Heaven franchises on board. In all, the effort raised more than $6,500 to help feed the homeless.

For every $1 donated by a customer, Hamburger Heaven donated three hamburgers to feed the homeless. Folse said the Gardendale Hamburger Heaven location raised more than any other store with $2,800.

“This is not the highest volume Hamburger Heaven, but it speaks volumes about the community,” Folse said.

Barnett said God deserves the credit for the success of the campaign. She said she had just taken what the Lord asked her to do and ran with it. “It wasn’t me, it was God,” she said. “God’s been moving big time in this project.”

Barnett also thanked Folse and the other Hamburger Heaven franchisees for their generosity. The plan was originally for volunteers to prepare the food before handing it out, but she said the franchisees would cook the food for her.

Folse said the franchisees would take turns cooking the food at the different locations and said it takes about two hours to prepare the large quantity of hamburgers.

The food is then distributed every other Sunday and Monday. Folse said on Jan. 6, about 65 women and children were fed at First Light, a downtown mission. On Monday, about 350 will be served at the Lovelady Center.

As of Jan. 1, Folse said the donations for the “Hamburgers for the Homeless” drive ended, but donations can still be made at the store to The Refuge, a homeless ministry. Barnett said what the ministry needs now is money to help pay for paper plates and potato chips.

She praised the franchisees for continuing to help the homeless. “They’ve gone above and beyond,” she said. “They’re just amazing people.”

For more information about Whosoever ministries, visit www.whosoeverministries.com.