Making
a Difference:
Community
Meals
By
Columnist
Lynn Nichols
One
of the most striking things about the Pioneer Valley is
the way in which we take care of our own. And nowhere is
that more evident than in the abundance of community
meal programs throughout Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden
counties. Open to anyone who's hungry, these life-saving
repasts are served every night of the week in varying
locations. And it's a service that's well appreciated by
the many grateful diners who show up on any given night.
The congregation of All Souls Church in Greenfield first
organized community meals in Franklin County in the
mid-1980s. Currently, the largest program in Franklin is
under the auspices of Franklin County Community Meals,
which coordinates two meals per week at Greenfield's
Second Congregational Church, one night each week at St.
Anne's in Turners Falls and two nights per week at
Bethany Lutheran church in Orange. The organization,
headed by Executive Director Susan Malley and Program
Director Richard Shea also operates the Food Pantry in
Orange. It's funded by private donations and the
generosity of about twenty serving groups, including
Traprock Peace Center (they host 8 times per year),
Northfield Mount Herman and All Souls.
"We feed anyone hungry for food or company,"
Susan Malley says. "We make no distinctions and ask
no questions. Last year alone, we served 11,000
meals." That's quite a feat for an organization
that operates on a shoestring budget and depends heavily
on the good graces of volunteers.
The
Valley Viewpoint staff brought and served up food at
last night's meal at Second Congo (as it's
affectionately called). Though the dining hall was
packed, the food was plentiful enough for participants
to come back for seconds (or thirds) as well as take
some home. And it's quite the operation. Volunteers,
organized by the serving group in charge that night,
bring salads, main courses and desserts at 5 PM. Hot
food is kept warm in the church ovens, cold food
organized on platters, and everything is set out on
tables at 5:30 PM. By 6:45, the food is gone, diners
have disappeared, dishes are being washed and floors are
being swept. It's a scene that repeats itself every day
of the week somewhere in the Valley.
Community meals are important to the Valley not only
because they help to feed the less fortunate among us.
Far from charity, they represent a way for all of us to
do something positive to bring about change on a local
level. They foster a spirit of togetherness and
understanding. And they offer us a chance to break bread
with one another. At the end of a community meal,
everyone leaves satisfied — the diners and the
servers.
If you'd like to participate in a community meal, call
one of the organizations listed below. They'll be happy
to have you.
Note: Food safety is an important issue for anyone
helping to prepare a community meal. Valley Viewpoint
has a limited supply of the free booklet, Cooking for
Groups: A Volunteer's Guide to Food Safety, which
was prepared by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
E-mail us at info2005@valleyviewpoint.com
if you want a copy.
FRANKLIN COUNTY
Monday:
St. James Church, Church Street, Greenfield, 5:30 PM
(413) 774-7377 or (413) 774-1486
St.
Anne’s Church, J Street, Turners Falls (behind post
office) 5:30 PM
St. Mary’s Hall, 90 Seventh St., Turners Falls,
413/772-1033, 5:30 PM
Tuesday:
Second Congregational Church, Court Square, Greenfield,
5:30 PM (413) 774-4355
Wednesday:
Salvation Army, 72 Chapman Street, Greenfield, 11:30 -
12:30 PM (413) 773-3154
Second Congregational Church, Court Square, Greenfield,
5:30 PM
Thursday:
Salvation Army, 72 Chapman Street, Greenfield, 11:30 -
12:30 PM
Sacred
Heart, Deerfield Street, Greenfield, (413) 774-2884
(meal is sponsored by Holy Trinity Church, Greenfield),
5:00 PM
Friday:
Salvation Army, 72 Chapman Street, Greenfield, MA, 11:30
- 12:30 PM
Trinity
Church, Severance Street, Shelburne Falls, MA, 5:00 PM,
(413) 625-2341
HAMPSHIRE COUNTY
Monday:
Amherst Survival Center, North Amherst School, 1200
North Pleasant St., Amherst, 413/549-3968, 12:00 - 1:00
PM
MANNA, Edwards Church, 297 Main St., Northampton,
413/584-5500, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday:
Amherst Survival Center, North Amherst School, 1200
North Pleasant St., Amherst, 413/549-3968, 12:00 - 1:00
PM
Wednesday:
MANNA, Edwards Church, 297 Main St., Northampton,
413/584-5500, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Thursday:
Amherst Survival Center, North Amherst School, 1200
North Pleasant St., Amherst, 413/549-3968, 12:00 - 1:00
PM
Friday:
Amherst Survival Center, North Amherst School, 1200
North Pleasant St., Amherst, 413/549-3968, 12:00 - 1:00
PM
Saturday:
Not Bread Alone, First Congregational Church, 165 Main
St., Amherst, 413/549-0166, 10:30 AM - 2:00 PM
MANNA, Edwards Church, 297 Main St., Northampton,
413/584-5500, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Sunday:
Not Bread Alone, First Congregational Church, 165 Main
St., Amherst, 413/549-0166, 10:30 AM - 2:00 PM
MANNA, St. John’s Episcopal Church, 48 Elm St.,
Northampton 413/584-1757, 11:30 AM -12:30 PM
HAMPDEN COUNTY
Monday:
Springfield Rescue Mission, 19 Bliss St., Springfield,
413/732-0808, 7:20 AM
Parish Cupboard, 1023 Main St., West Springfield,
413/734-7969, 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM, and from 11:30 AM -
12:00 PM
Kate’s Kitchen, 264 Elm St., Holyoke, 413/532-0233,
12:00 Noon, Salvation Army, 271 Appleton St., Holyoke,
413/532-6312 3:30 PM -4:30 PM
Tuesday:
Springfield Rescue Mission, 19 Bliss St., Springfield,
413/732-0808, 7:20 AM
Parish Cupboard, 1023 Main St., West Springfield,
413/734-7969, 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM, and from 11:30 AM -
12:00 PM
Kate’s Kitchen, 264 Elm St., Holyoke, 413/532-0233,
12:00 Noon
Salvation Army, 271 Appleton St., Holyoke, 413/532-6312
3:30 PM -4:30 PM
Wednesday:
Springfield Rescue Mission, 19 Bliss St., Springfield,
413/732-0808, 7:20 AM
Parish
Cupboard, 1023 Main St., West Springfield, 413/734-7969,
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM, from 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM, and from
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Kate’s Kitchen, 264 Elm St., Holyoke, 413/532-0233,
12:00 Noon
Salvation Army, 271 Appleton St., Holyoke, 413/532-6312
3:30 PM -4:30 PM
Friend’s Place, St. John’s Congregational Church,
643 Union St., Springfield, 413/734-2283, 5:00 PM - 6:00
PM
Mount Zion Soup Kitchen, 368 Bay St., Springfield,
413/785-5664, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Thursday:
Springfield Rescue Mission, 19 Bliss St., Springfield,
413/732-0808, 7:20 AM
Parish Cupboard, 1023 Main St., West Springfield,
413/734-7969, 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM, and from 11:30 AM -
12:00 PM
Kate’s Kitchen, 264 Elm St., Holyoke, 413/532-0233,
12:00 Noon
Salvation Army, 271 Appleton St., Holyoke, 413/532-6312
3:30 PM -4:30 PM
Friday:
Springfield Rescue Mission, 19 Bliss St., Springfield,
413/732-0808, 7:20 AM
Parish Cupboard, 1023 Main St., West Springfield,
413/734-7969, 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM, and from 11:30 AM -
12:00 PM
Kate’s Kitchen, 264 Elm St., Holyoke, 413/532-0233,
12:00 Noon
Salvation Army, 271 Appleton St., Holyoke, 413/532-6312
3:30 PM -4:30 PM
Saturday:
Springfield Rescue Mission, 19 Bliss St., Springfield,
413/732-0808, 7:20 AM
Sunday:
Loaves and Fishes, 287 State St., Springfield,
413/731-5668, 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM. Call for the
location.
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