One of the most basic human needs is the need to eat, and two locals are currently working to help feed those facing more than just physical hunger.

The founders of Get Fed, a nonprofit, are about to celebrate their two year anniversary.

“On July 29, 2016, I was cleaning up on the job, and God started to speak to me,” said Quay Boddie, a founder of Get Fed during a city council meeting in June. “He said people needed to be fed. He said not only with food, he said they needed to be fed with fellowship. They needed to be fed with love. They need to be fed all the way around, so I took a little bit of money — me and a guy who is no longer with the organization — and we started feeding people.”

Since then the group has continued to reach out to people in the community with a listening ear and a meal, but it all started with that first meal.

“They bought 150 pieces of chicken, and they literally just went through the neighborhoods passing out chicken,” said Anthony Talley, one of the founders of the group. “From there, I was called on board, and we pulled money together. We literally just started getting in our cars and riding through neighborhoods.”

Get Fed has received some support from the community, and its founders even approached the City of LaGrange for funding. However, with this year’s fiscally conservative city budget, the project will have to continue to rely on support from the community. This has led to some creative problem solving by the founders.

“After our first meeting at the [LaGrange] City Council when we were basically informed that we were denied funding — and that was our first time even applying — I was kind of upset about it,” Talley said. “So, I went home, and I believe in prayer. I prayed a little bit, and just like that it hit me. ‘You don’t stop here. There is something else you can do in the meantime.’ And I’m like what? It came to me, dollar Thursday, and I woke up that morning, and I posted on Facebook.”

Talley asked his Facebook friends to send him $1 through a cash app, with all the money to go toward groceries for those in need. Talley said that the idea generated $233 in the third week alone, which he said he used for groceries for local families.

“It is always enough to get the families through the weekend, so it has been good,” Talley said. “Last week we were able to assist two families, and the week prior we helped three families. Then with the money that we have today, my intent is to grocery shop for three.”

In addition to local families, the group also provides assistance to the homeless and gives out snacks to local children.

“People know us in the community,” Boddie said. “If anybody needs this shirt off my back right now, I’ll give it to them.”

According to Talley, the program has done work throughout LaGrange, and its founders even helped find funding for major improvements to a basketball court in West Point.

“We’ve been to every side of town so far, but there is still a lot of work to do because there are just two of us [now],” Talley said.

However, organizers emphasize that Get Fed is about more than just food.

“It became bigger than feeding,” Boddie said. “We started changing lives hundreds at a time.”

Get Fed is currently looking for a full-time facility to serve as the organization’s home base where people can come for a meal and help with job applications.

To learn more about Get Fed Inc. visit the group on Facebook or email getfedfor1@gmail.com.

Get Fed will host a car and bike show fundraiser on July 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Bargain Hunt parking lot.

The entry fee is $15 per participating vehicle.