By Miles Layton
A round-up of all things from God’s country…
Christmas Eve news comes from a tip from Bob Steinburg about a Christmas dinner that served more than 500 people in Edenton. Perquimans County — we have an update about New Haven Missionary Baptist Church — that’s the church with the collapsed roof.
Why do I write these round-up columns? Answer — to better tie Northeast NC together. If we know what our neighbors and communities near and far are doing, we can offer praise, perhaps a helping hand, and recognize that we are all in this together.
Next, I know there’s a lot of bad news flying around social media, particularly from the local political arena. Trust me, I’m aware. My phone has been ringing, and my messenger box has been pinging.
That said, my lovely wife Nicole and I have always followed this policy – no bad news until after the holidays — if you can’t discuss these stories in polite conversation over Christmas or New Year’s dinner, then maybe this news should wait a few days until 2026. People should be able to spend time with their families without being assaulted by the media.
Let’s have a Walton’s Mountain Christmas – embrace time with our families and friends, and worship at church, praise be to God.
Let’s start with some heartwarming news — Bob Steinburg praised Ann Lightfoot and her “Hills of Help” ministry team, who prepared and served over 500 Christmas dinners in Edenton. Bob and Marie, thanks for the tip and merry Christmas! Anyone with tips to share – send them to mileslayton1969@gmail.com
A gallery of photos from Hills of Help is posted at the end of our story.
Here’s our story — The smell of turkey and gravy filled the Fannie A. Parker Women’s Club on Saturday, Dec. 20, as volunteers moved steadily through the kitchen and dining area, serving plate after plate of Christmas dinner. For Ann Lightfoot, founder and president of Hills of Help Ministry, the scene represented more than a successful event — it reflected a calling she says began with a simple vision.
“We do a lot in our community, but when the Lord first gave me the vision, it was to provide a hot Christmas meal for those who needed it,” Lightfoot said. “This past Saturday was our third annual community Christmas dinner.”
What began as a single outreach effort has grown into a wide-reaching ministry that quietly serves Edenton residents throughout the year. While the Christmas dinner is the most visible part of Hills of Help’s work, Lightfoot said it is only one piece of a larger mission.
“We also feed throughout the year,” she said. “A lot of people don’t know about it, but we have prayer lists, and when people call and ask us to put someone on that list, we often learn they’ve been in rehab or recovering from an injury.”
Those phone calls often lead to action.
“When they come home, many are unable to stand over a stove and cook, so we prepare meals on weekends and take them to their homes so they have food to eat,” Lightfoot said. “We basically provide meals whenever we see the need.”
On Dec. 20, that need brought hundreds of people through the doors.
“We served on Saturday, December 20,” Lightfoot said.
The menu reflected the warmth of a traditional holiday meal.
“We had turkey, stuffing, gravy, string beans, candied yams, ham, potato salad, rolls, cookies for dessert, and drinks,” she said.
The response exceeded expectations.
“On this past Saturday, we fed 500 people,” Lightfoot said. “We provided 550 meals. People kept coming, so we prepared an additional 50 meals.”
To make that happen, Hills of Help relied on a dedicated group of volunteers who worked behind the scenes to cook, serve, and deliver meals.
“It changes every year, but I would say we had approximately 25 to 30 volunteers helping us cook and serve,” Lightfoot said.
The scale of the meal was impressive. Volunteers prepared 50 turkey breasts — more than 260 pounds of turkey — and still ran out before the last guests arrived.
“We had 50 turkey breasts — about 260 pounds of turkey — and we still ran out,” she said.
Keeping the kitchen running smoothly required experience and teamwork.
“Mrs. Marie Steinberg and Chef Lesley Lippincott Hogan kept the kitchen running,” Lightfoot said. “They kept the food heated and everything moving at a steady pace.”
Lightfoot credits the success of the dinner — and the ministry as a whole — to faith and community support.
“This could not be possible without God,” she said. “He touched the hearts of so many people to join in with us. I can’t do this by myself.”
Lightfoot owns Bag Shop Alterations in downtown Edenton and said the ministry’s earliest success came through partnerships with local businesses.
“I own Bag Shop Alterations here in Edenton, and the first year I reached out to local businesses to partner with us,” she said. “Many of them came together and helped make this happen.”
The reason she keeps going, Lightfoot said, is simple.
“There is a real need in our community,” she said.
That need is often hidden from view.
“When the Lord first gave me this ministry, He told me that many people won’t ask for help because of pride,” Lightfoot said. “He told me, ‘Feed them,’ and that’s what I’m doing.”
Over time, Lightfoot has seen the impact of those meals ripple through families and neighborhoods.
“I’ve had people continuously reach out to thank me,” she said. “One elderly woman couldn’t come out, and her daughter thanked us for looking out for her.”
When residents are unable to attend community meals, Hills of Help takes the food to them.
“When people can’t come to us, we have a delivery list and volunteers ready to take meals to their homes,” Lightfoot said.
Her approach to service is rooted in empathy, shaped by personal experience.
“One thing the Lord taught me is that you cannot look at someone and determine whether they need food or not,” she said. “There was a time in my life when I was in need, but you couldn’t tell by looking at me.”
That lesson is one she shares with every volunteer.
“I tell our volunteers not to judge a book by its cover,” Lightfoot said. “You can’t determine need by appearances.”
Lightfoot formally serves as both the founder and president of Hills of Help Ministry, but she emphasizes that the work belongs to the entire community.
“I am the founder and president of Hills of Help Ministry,” she said.
While the Christmas dinner draws attention each December, Lightfoot hopes residents will come to understand the ministry’s year-round commitment.
“People know us for the Christmas dinners, but they don’t realize that we provide meals and support to families and individuals throughout the year,” she said.
Those interested in supporting the ministry or learning more can visit Bag Shop Alterations at 103B West Eden Street in Edenton.
As volunteers packed up and the final meals were delivered, the spirit of the evening lingered — a reminder that sometimes the most powerful gift of the season is a warm plate of food, served with compassion and faith.
Next, New Haven Missionary Baptist Church – that’s the church whose roof collapsed on Church Lane.
“Regarding the church, it was already scheduled for a control burn by the Bethel Fire Department in January. After speaking with their fire chief earlier today, that is still the plan,” Erle Solesbee posted to our Facebook page. Thanks for letting us know — merry Christmas!
Perquimans EMS Chief Jonathan Nixon said that the live burn is scheduled tentatively for Saturday, January 17, 2026 weather permitting.
That’s good news.
Worth noting: information added to this post — Perquimans’ civic leader Connie Brothers requests that the controlled burn occur on a different date, as Jan 17th is the Saturday before Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
Maybe this has been done, maybe not, but I’m hoping that before someone strikes a match to ignite the controlled burn, the church is properly deconsecrated or at least a prayer said. After all, this was a place of God where folks were baptized, marriages were held, prayers were offered, and Sunday sermons were preached.
Last note, the Layton family wishes everyone a merry Christmas.
Hills of Help — Glad tidings and good cheer; Merry Christmas!
