It’s 3 o’clock on a sunny, warm summer afternoon, just about the time it would be ideal to curl up with a good book before taking a quiet nap.

For Perry Hines, however, these summer afternoons are anything but leisurely. Hines can be found on Commerce Street in Waynesville’s Frog Level neighborhood, running the show for The Open Door Ministries by providing wholesome meals for anyone who enters.

The mission of Open Door Ministries is to give renewed hope to people and see lives transformed through the gospel.

“This mission is my desire — to feed people’s bodies in order to understand the needs of their souls,” said Hines.

Originally from Troy and an ordained minister in the Wesleyan Church for 20 years, Hines finds endless concern is needed for people’s souls.

“I felt a tug in my heart to reach the people who fall through the cracks of traditional churches. This ministry was the type where my wife and I felt that the Lord was directing us,” said Hines

The Open Door is a non-profit organization and is therefore free from any government aid. It is labor intensive to run a full-time soup kitchen, but nearly all of the human labor for the Open Door comes from volunteers. Over 150 people dedicate time and energy in order that Waynesville might reap the benefits of such a ministry. The Open Door was founded by Long’s Chapel United Methodist Church and is also supported by many community churches, organizations and individuals.

Although the Open Door of Waynesville was started about six years ago, Hines has served as director for only three months. His wife, JoAnn, will be joining him as an employee at the Open Door in November. Hines is a jack-of-all-trades and is willing to do any job that needs to be done: fixing toilets, answering phones, mopping the floor, lending a helping hand to those in need.

The food service is only part of the ministry. Another aim is to open the door to people’s hearts. Although it is not necessary to have any sort of Christian affiliation to receive help from the ministry, a blessing and devotion are held prior to every meal. These daily devotions hold as much importance for the volunteers as they do for the guests. Steve Green of Waynesville, who is serving his fifth year at The Open Door, says that the ministry plays a huge part in his life. Green rattles off the date he began volunteering almost as effortlessly as if it were his date of birth. “[The Open Door] reaches out to the needy, and has been doing so since before I began on April 4, 1998,” says Green.

Carol Hitchens, originally from upstate New York, began volunteering at The Open Door two years ago. She is a member of Long’s Chapel United Methodist Church, and while many of the volunteers come from Long’s Chapel, she says “it is a community effort.”

Sally and Ron Macket moved to Lake Junaluska from Evanston, Ill., and have been involved in soup kitchens for the past 4 1/2 years. They refer to themselves as “soup kitchen addicts.” Both Sally and Ron work disaster relief as well, and find that The Open Door accommodates these periods of their absence.

Although breakfast at The Open Door is somewhat quiet — with only 10 to 15 people eating on most days — lunch is a different story. On an average day, the headcount for lunch could be anywhere from 40-65 people. Some of these people come for a couple of weeks until they can find a job, while some only come for a meal or two. Either way, Hines is determined to make it obvious that anyone is welcome.

There is no charge at all, but donations are accepted — and appreciated. Donations may consist of money, time, energy, and also food. Among these donated food items are also found clothes and other necessities for life.

A newer addition to the Open Door is the thrift store. Alice Ensley came in one Monday morning and said that she found “seven people working: folding, sifting, and sorting.” Impressed by the atmosphere and the mission, she immediately signed her family up as volunteers.

Other programs sponsored by The Open Door include a G.E.D. program, a Bible Study, a New Beginnings Ministry for those seeking employment, and a Saturday Worship Service. Beginning June 21, The Open Door will also sponsor a Children’s Story Hour on Thursday mornings from 10:30 to 11:30.