Ellen Turner: Co-founder of Knoxville's The Love Kitchen who dedicated herself to feeding the poor, passes away

Charity was established by twin sisters in 1986

Ellen Turner dedicated her life to helping the hungry and homeless (The Love Kitchen)

Ellen Turner’s idea was quite simple.

Along with her twin sister, Helen Ashe, she wanted to provide for Knoxville’s homeless and hungry – not just with meals, but with love.

With such dedication was born the The Love Kitchen, a charity that since 1986 has provided hundreds of meals every week for those in city in need of a hearty meal and a human touch. For almost 30 years, Ms Turner and Ms Ashe supervised the cooking and a team of volunteers.

Ellen Turner and her sister Helen Ashe established The Love Kitchen in 1986 (The Love Kitchen)

Last week, it was announced that Ms Turner had died after being admitted to hospital last Monday.

“The Love Kitchen is sad to announce the passing of Ellen Turner, one of the co-founders of The Love Kitchen,” said a message posted on the charity’s website.

“By her side the entire length of her hospital stay, was her twin sister, Helen Ashe. Ellen passed away at 11.17 pm on April 22nd, 2015 with Helen and her family by her side.”

Patrick Riggins, president of the Love Kitchen, told The Independent: "She was one of twins. They spent their whole lives helping other people."

The Associated Press said Ms Turner and Ms Ashe started The Love Kitchen after seeing a report on television about people waiting to be fed in a soup kitchen. The charity provides food and clothes to people who are homebound, homeless or unemployed.

The work earned them national recognition, including an appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

The organisation said the kitchen will remain open to serve the community. “We thank everyone for their loyalty and support of the sisters, their family, and the organisation that still holds their hearts,” said a message on its website.

A birthday celebration for the sisters last month raised more than $6,000 in donations for the kitchen. Ms Turner’s husband, Leon, died in 2002.

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett brought in a $2,631 check from a Knox County fundraiser along with five barrels of food.

“These ladies have been a great part of our community for years and years,” he said. “They feed hungry people. What's better than that? What better tribute for our community to come here and honour them.”

The New York Times said that Ms Turner, who claimed she was five minutes older than her sister, was born to sharecropper parents, John Liddell and the former Alice White, on March 8, 1928, in Abbeville, South Carolina. She and her sister were sent almost daily to what was called the “big house” on the farm property to do chores before school.