Thursday, October 1, 2026
For almost 15 years, Joyful Hands Ministries has served breakfast to Olympia’s unhoused every Saturday morning in a parking lot on the corner of State Avenue and Franklin Street.
Founded and led by Dee Hampton — affectionally known as Mama Dee — the ministry is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, which is staffed by volunteers who prepare and serve the meals while providing encouragement to those they serve.
Between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m., volunteers break 40 dozen eggs, prepare griddles full of hash brown patties, use numerous packages of shredded and sliced cheese, open numerous packages of flour tortillas and/or bread, prepare gallons of hot coffee and chocolate and Tang, use paper cups and plates, plastic forks and spoons, sugar, coffee, pancake flour, syrup, butter, fruit cups, to-go containers and large plastic trash bags to accomplish and finish their mission.
“Every Saturday I see the true joy in people’s eyes for receiving a hot meal,” commented formerly homeless and now volunteer Josh Moore, as he prepared several dozen hash browns.
“Some of the people being served today have worked their whole lives, and disability or social security does not pay them enough to eat and afford an apartment. I just want everyone to remember that it could be any one of us down there needing a meal. As humans it should be obvious that feeding the hungry is the right thing to do.”
But all of this help for the homeless may end due to a lack of funding.
According to Hampton, it costs the ministry $350 per Saturday during the winter months and $500 per Saturday during the summer months to feed the 250 to 500 individuals they serve.
“Our funding for this year just dropped 90 percent over the past few months,” she continued. “We need more funding.”
Hampton believes an uncertainty about the economy and where the country is headed has had a negative impact on donations.
“I think it is the economy … and I have had to use my own money out of my pocket to keep feeding these individuals,” she continued.
“Also, we provide love and encouragement to keep people going. There have been many occasions that we have been thanked by our houseless families just for being here for the past 14 years. We want to keep going until the housing problems in our community are solved. Until then, I will continue to feed people, but I could really use some help.”
To donate and/or volunteer to help Mama Dee’s Joyful Hands Ministries, visit joyfulhandsministries.weebly.com or email joyfulhandsministries@gmail.com.
4 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
C K
Mama Dee is awesome! She and her volunteers provide a great and much-needed service. Times are tough for everyone; too many are struggling to pay their own bills and provide for their own families. Hard for genuine non-profits to keep doing what they do best in these tough times. I hope they get consistent donations to keep doing all they can.
Tuesday, February 25, 2025 Report this
Snevets
What about neighboring churches?
Tuesday, February 25, 2025 Report this
CountTabbit
We are thankful to both JOLT News and our Community! We currently need all the help we can get!
Correction: NEW website joyfulhandsoutreach.weebly.com
I used to be on the other side of the line and now give back every Saturday. Your help goes along way!!
Wednesday, February 26, 2025 Report this
hptrillium
Dee, thank you for doing this. Such a service to the community!
Wednesday, February 26, 2025 Report this