The start of the Christmas season also means the start of the End of the Month meal program, a free meal offered daily during the last week or so of each month to help those struggling through the winter and early spring.

A number of churches support these meals, which are available at the Living Word Event Center on Main Street in downtown Knoxville. For one week at the end of the month, diners may eat in from 5:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., take meals out with them or have them delivered.

Shiloh Schrader is with the End of the Month meal program; she tells KNIA/KRLS News many people on fixed incomes struggle to make their food and their budget last to the first day of the month, so this program allows them to get by for those last few days.

“The End of the Month meal program was started by Lily Brandon in 2002 for people that live on Social Security, because they run out of money towards the end of the month. So this program was started to help them, and it’s just grown by leaps and bounds,” Schrader says.

End of the Month isn’t confined to senior citizens or those using Social Security; anyone can request help, with no questions asked beyond their name, address and phone number.

Schrader says next month’s meals will be served the week before Christmas, and then from January through March. Donations are welcome, and questions can be directed to the New Covenant Church office in Knoxville.