“Every church, every Saturday, every community.”
With that mission statement, the Grill to Glory movement initiated by the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis and several churches six years ago has grown to more than 350 churches.
“We have gone from 12 churches to 22, to 65, to 112, to over 250 last year. This year we have 351 churches,” said James Clark, the Urban League’s vice president of public safety.
Grills are fired up and free hot dogs are distributed at churches across the Metro East, St. Louis and St. Louis County from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. The effort began at Leonard Missionary Baptist Church in response to the opioid crisis, Clark said.
Photo by Lawrence Bryant | St. Louis American
“Leonard Baptist Church is where it all started in response to the opioid crisis. There are things you can’t deal with in an office (or) in a building. You have to be out and be visible,” Clark said during the annual kickoff event and cookout held last week at Urban League headquarters.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provides thousands of hot dogs each summer. Douglas K. Weible of Fred Weber Inc. has provided grills for participating churches, purchasing more than 400 since 2017.
Many churches offer more than hot dogs. Some provide youth haircuts, bounce houses, clothing, toiletries and other supplies. Organizers say the events are designed to connect residents with local congregations and community resources.
According to the Urban League, more than 80% of participating churches reported increased Sunday attendance.
The organization also reported that Grill to Glory helped place more than 100 people in jobs last year. Organizers said the initiative has also assisted residents with utility, rent and mortgage payments and helped resolve more than 100 arrest warrants during the past three years.
Photo by Lawrence Bryant | St. Louis American
“Grill to Glory is not just feeding the community; it is feeding the spirit,” said Minister Anthony McMiller of Leonard Missionary Baptist Church.
“It’s about drawing the community to the church.”
Clark said Grill to Glory expanded beyond St. Louis and Memphis, where the initiative also launched six years ago, and now includes churches in Indianapolis, Seattle, Houston, Dallas and Nashville.
“This is the movement that all of America needs right now,” Clark said. “All of America needs this.
“The Black church was a cornerstone of the civil rights movement. It again can be a spark for this mission to take on opioid addiction and violence in the community through Grill to Glory.”
For more information about Grill to Glory, visit the Urban League website at ulstl.com