1. FOR IMMEDIATERELEASE 4/13/15
CONTACT: Jim Wozniak
423-408-7299
KINGSPORT CHURCH COMFORTS HOLSTON VALLEY CANCER
PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH HOME-COOKED MEALS
KINGSPORT – At 7:30 a.m.,as nurses and other caregivers begin their shifts on Holston Valley
Medical Center’s W-3 unit, another team arrives, bearing whisks and spatulas instead of stethoscopes.
They’re from State Line Baptist Church, and once a month, they bring hot, home-cooked meals to
the unit. During their visits, they arrive at the hospital early and prepare meals in W-3’s kitchen. By 11
a.m., the floor is filled with mouth-watering aromas,and patients, families and visitors have lined up
around the kitchen for their share.
“We started this ministry for a simple reason: We wanted to help sick people feelbetter,” said
Debbie Keene,one of the group’s founding members and regular volunteer. “While we can’t do much to
heal their bodies, we can give them some comforts from home – and food is the ultimate comfort. It’s also
a boost to their families and loved ones, who often spend days camped out at the bedside.”
Most patients on W-3 are fighting cancer,which means their hospital visits tend to be more
frequent than other patients. This gives cooks from State Line Baptist an opportunity to bond with many
patients and their families – even if that relationship occasionally becomes bittersweet.
“One woman and her family seemed to be here nearly every time we were,and we really got to
know them,” Keene said. “Unfortunately, during our most recent visit, her prognosis became grim, and
her family was at a loss with what to do next. In that moment, giving them a warm, filling lunch wasn’t
just the least we could do – it was the best thing we could do.”
Understanding patient and family needs comes fairly easily for many of the cooks, as they’ve
either survived cancer or lost loved ones to it. One of them, Pat Overbey,can draw from both experiences.
She completed oncology treatments at Holston Valley in 2011, and she also lost her mother-in-law to
cancer in October.
“I was so blessed to receive excellent care at Holston Valley, and so was my mother-in-law,”
Overbey said. “I’ve always wanted to pass that blessing on, and I’m so grateful to be able to do that – and
share Christ’s love through this awesome ministry.”
Many people at Holston Valley share Overbey’s love of the ministry.
“The Holston Valley experience is more than just medical care. It’s an overall sense of caring and
healing that takes care of a person’s mind, body and soul,” said Kathryn Visneski, an oncology nurse

2. specialist on W-3. “These incredible people from State Line Baptist are generously giving up their days to
create that sense of well-being for our patients and their families, and we’re immensely grateful.”
Overbey, Keene and the rest of the volunteers share more than food. As they prepare meals, the
W-3 kitchen is filled with laughter and jovial conversations among the cooks, who are good friends in
addition to being team members. As people trickle in for the meals, the jokes continue, but they’re mixed
with prayers and words of consolation and comfort.
“We’re here for whatever people need,” Keene said. “If they need food, it’s done. If they want to
chat and laugh, we can do that. And if they need hugs and prayer, that’s what we’re here for,too.”
Churches and other organizations are welcome to bring meals of their own. Interested groups can
call 423-224-5592 to learn more.
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