Hometown Hero: Jan Shook delivers meals to those in need

Jan Shook has spent the last eleven years of her life making sure her neighbors had enough to eat. She is the director of Outreach Ministers at St. Peters by the Sea and has been on the board for five years at Feed my Sheep.

News 25’s Brooke Parker spent the day with her as she made her rounds delivering meals to people and got to witness the friendships she’s made along the way.

“My mother was always feeding people. I found out my grandmother used to keep biscuits at the backdoor for people who might get off the railroad track during the Depression. So, apparently there’s something in my blood that wants me to feed people.”

Jan Shook starts cooking biscuits at 6:30 Saturday mornings. Then, she hops in her car and delivers them around the neighborhood. She calls this the ‘Biscuit Brigade’ which she started alongside St. Peters by the Sea Episcopal Church.

It’s not just biscuits on Saturdays, but she works with Feed my Sheep to deliver meals Monday through Friday, too.

One of the several homes she visits belongs to Betty, who requires assistance in her day-to-day life, and when Jan heard this, she was knocking at her door. “It’s a help to me. I can’t get out like I used to. And I would try to be up there on Saturdays and pick some ladies up and go up there, but it was just getting too much for me. So, I was glad when Jan said they were going to try to get people to service us on Saturdays and I’m very thankful for that.”

Betty’s nephew, Frankie Pilate, helps as much as he can, but he knows he can rely on Jan when he’s not there to cook. He also knows that Betty has a friend in Jan. “Jan… she comes in and she’ll stay awhile with you. And really have a conversation with you and see how you’re doing.”

As soon as Jan walks through the door, people are asking how she is, showing how strong of a friendship she has with them. “The love that I feel for them, in addition to what I feel from them, is immeasurable.”

Another person she delivers to, Sam Heathcock, explains how Jan was able to develop a connection with him. “We’ve always communicated with… things and all, and she’s always treated me with respect and kindness.”

Charles Bradley lost his vision at 63 when he developed glaucoma. It’s been a massive adjustment that he’s been taking in stride. Despite his struggles, Bradley prays for Jan every night. “Every time I get on the floor, I pray for y’all. When I get on the floor, I pray morning and night.”

Even if there came a day that Jan couldn’t bring food to people anymore, she’d still be a hometown hero for how she lends a shoulder to cry on, a listening ear, and is a friend to those who need one. “These people are not any different from me, or you, or anyone else. They’re people who are on a bad time. They’re on a hard time. They may have medical issues, they may have mental health issues, they may have housing issues. But they’re not different from us in any way because we’re all God’s children, and he told us to feed his sheep and that’s what we’re trying to do.”