St. Peter’s Episcopal Church wants to make sure everyone in Oxford gets a good start to their day by providing a free, healthy breakfast.

The church’s Outreach Committee wanted a way to meet a need of the larger community and decided offering a free meal to those who may not be able to afford to eat a healthy breakfast was a need they could meet.

The free breakfast project, Rise and Shine, will be serving breakfast from 7 a.m. To 8:30 p.m., Mondays and Thursdays at the church through April 3. It started on March 2.

Volunteer J.P Vinson said the first few mornings have gone well so far; however, is hoping to see more people come for breakfast.

“We realize that it will take a little while to get the word out about what we’re doing and we’re doing it,” he said.

Lynn Wells, one of the project coordinators, said the Outreach Committee visited All Saints Episcopal Church in Tupelo to see how the church ran its successful Saint’s Brew free breakfast program and decided to try the program in Oxford.

The committee decided to run the first Rise and Shine breakfast during Lent.

“Lent is a time of taking on, as well as giving up,” Wells said. “It has a beginning and an end so it gives us time to work out the kinks and time to see if this program will be accepted by the community.”

The church hopes to grow the program where it can serve a free breakfast on more days of the week.

“Everyday would be wonderful to assure that people have a good start to their day,” she said.

The free breakfast is open to everyone, adults and children.

Anyone who needs a good breakfast is welcome at our table,” Wells said.

Well said there will be six rotating menus that include hot and cold breakfast foods, juice, milk, fruit, bread and coffee.

Rise and Shine is being funded through donations from the church Parish.

Summer Vinson, church member and volunteer, hopes the free meal will help people struggling with food costs.

“I grocery shop for my family and I see every week how expensive food in Oxford is,” she said. “So this a meaningful way for me to try to help where I can. I am hopeful that Rise and Shine Breakfast will become a permanent way for St. Peter’s to serve our community.”

St. Peter’s is located at 113 S. 9th St., off the Oxford Square. For more information on how to make a donation or volunteer, call 662-234-1269.