The last time David Waldrip stopped outside Church Health’s Nutrition Hub, he hadn’t come for a cooking class.
He and his wife were at Crosstown Concourse for a meal. But before heading to the restaurant, they took a familiar route through the building and paused at the kitchen windows.
Inside, the kitchen was quiet. Looking in brought back memories of the food they had prepared, the people they had met and the fun they had shared.
Their thought was simple: “When do we get to come back?”
For David, a retired information technology professional and native Memphian who lives in Germantown, Church Health had long been a familiar name. Over the years, he has seen news stories about its work. But hearing founder Dr. Scott Morris speak at Christ Methodist Church made him want to learn more.
David went home and looked at the Church Health’s website. Under “Our Work,” he found nutrition—and an invitation to get involved.
The community cooking classes caught his attention. David lives with type 1 diabetes, and he and his wife share an interest in healthier eating. Church Health’s free cooking classes, Cook Well, Be Well, with its emphasis on the Mediterranean diet, seemed like a good place to begin.
Still, walking into an unfamiliar kitchen brought a little uncertainty.
“Like most people, my wife and I were probably just a little bit nervous about our level of cooking skills,” David said. “And the staff put us at ease.”
With encouragement and guidance, they joined other participants in preparing dishes that would become a shared meal. They left with recipes they could use at home—and a reason to return.
“My favorite part is the people,” David said.
The friendships grew alongside their confidence in the kitchen. Soon, David and his wife discovered another way to participate: Make a Meal, Share a Meal, where volunteers make meals for Church Health patients.
Through those meal preparation sessions, they could put their time and energy toward helping others. David began inviting friends from his Sunday school class and fellow church members to join them. For one session, he helped gather a full crew of 15.
People who came wanted to come again. Friends asked him to include them the next time he organized a group.
What began with one person’s curiosity was becoming a shared commitment.
For David, preparing meals offers “the sense of being involved in the community and an opportunity to give back.”
He and his wife have also covered the cost of food for these group outings. As David has learned more about Church Health, his appreciation has deepened for the care it provides to people who might otherwise struggle to get help—and for the community support that makes that care possible.
Now, he encourages others to find their own way to participate: take a class, gather a group, make a gift.
“Don’t hesitate,” he said.
David came to the Nutrition Hub hoping to learn something he could bring home. He left with recipes, friendship and an opportunity to serve. And he keeps sharing that experience, making room for more people around the table.
That afternoon outside the kitchen windows, he and his wife were already looking forward to their next visit.
Somewhere among the chopping, cooking and conversation, Church Health had become a place where they belonged.