by Martha Rose Woodward Twin sisters, Helen Ashe and Ellen Turner, founders of the Love Kitchen, were on hand on Thursday, January 19 to accept donations of 2,500 pounds of food and $2,582 in cash presented by Mayor Tim Burchett and Knox County Parks and Recreation Director Doug Bataille. The reaction of the 87 year old sisters to the donations could only be described as gleeful. Ashe and Turner hugged the mayor, the director and all other workers they could as they said repeatedly, “Thank you, thank you.” At one point, Helen Ashe ask members of the news media to let her give a comment and when everyone had quieted down, she said, “We just want to thank each of you. Each person who had anything to do with this, please know that we just thank you, thank you. Every bit of this food and the money will be spent to help the homeless, the helpless, the handicapped, the hungry and hopeless. We promise this will go to the people who need it the most.” The donations were made available through the Holiday Festival of Lights Celebration that was held last December at The Cove at Concord Park. The free event presented by the Parks and Recreation Department was a time when visitors are treated to a light show as they drove through the park. Those who attended the light show were encouraged to donate boxed or canned food and cash was also accepted. Doug Bataille said that this year’s giving topped that from years before and he was so pleased to see the outpour of support for the Love Kitchen. Mayor Burchett arrived holding a stack of cash and was quickly hugged by the sisters who surrounded him while also talking a mile a minute. The mayor asked them for a kiss on his cheek and, at one point, even twirled Helen around on the floor as he said he felt like dancing. Ellen continued to remind the mayor that she is 5 minutes older than her sister, Helen. Mayor Burchett was clear that the donations came about from the labor of the staff at the Parks and Recreation Department as well as from the generosity of the public. “I am the one who gets to have all the fun of bringing these donations to the Love Kitchen,” Burchett said. “However, it is the find staff that deserves the credit, and the citizens who are always so willing to help others. Helen and Ellen are a national treasure and it is always a delight to spend time with them.”
Sunspherebook@aol.comA celebration party was held at the Love Kitchen at 2418 Martin Luther King Boulevard on Tuesday, June 14 as a culmination for the Labor of Love Project dedicated to twin sisters, Ellen Turner and Helen Ashe—the Love Sisters. The project to remodel and repair the homes for the 83 year old twins, was sponsored by numerous area agencies in order to give back to the ladies who have given so much to the community for the last twenty-five years.
Ellen and Helen pointed, laughed and marveled like children under a Christmas tree as they toured their homes after the remodeling projects were completed.
Doyle Webb, president of Knoxville Homebuilders Association said, “It is so exciting to be a part of this great effort.” Webb explained, “We did keep the homes as much like they were as we could because that is what the sisters asked us to do.” The sisters, both widows, have lived in the houses since the 1960s. Ellen said her husband bought the house she owns in 1962. They were married over 42 years before his death.
Brick pavers, handrails, roofing, new driveways, paint, flooring, new appliances, walk-in showers, cabinets, new countertops and new furniture were just part of the items given to the sisters. Repairs were made in leaky ceilings and bathrooms that had seen better days. Landscaping and a new fences were also added to the yards.
Ellen said she could not believe all they had one. She said nobody but God and her knew how much she appreciated what all they have done.
Beth Haynes and Russell Biven were on hand for the celebration as the television show, Live at Five at Four from WBIR-TV dedicated their show to the celebration. A room full of supporters as well as family members were also on hand to honor the sisters and watch the reveal. Over 50 donors were listed as those who made the project possible. 84 Lumber, a company that recently went out of business, came through in a big way.
Mike Stevens, president of the Homebuilders of Tennessee, was on hand to assist the sisters as they toured their homes. Stevens explained how care was taken to keep the things the sisters requested while making the much-needed repairs and adding several new items such as a laundry room and dishwasher. In response to the repairs, Helen said, “Everybody out there who had anything to do with this, you just made two senior citizens happy.”
Webb asked the sisters, “What do you think about the overall job we did?” “Excellent!” said Helen. “Oh, you will never know. It is beautiful, just beautiful,” said Ellen.
