Christ’s Community Meal Continues to Grow

Over the past five and a half years, Christ’s Community Meal has been helping feed those in need in the Huron area.  The mission of the community meal is to serve those in need a warm, cooked meal that is made with love and served with love.  The volunteers associated with the community meal have worked tirelessly raising funds, preparing meals, and nurturing those less fortunate.  Despite the fact that the media reports positive changes in our economy, the number of meals served at Christ’s Community Meal has been rising steadily.  In 2014, 5,413 meals were served.  As of June 22, 2015, there have already been 3,547 meals served.  

Christ’s Community Meal is held at First Presbyterian Church on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month.  Those in attendance are treated to a delicious dinner.  If someone in need cannot physically get to the meal, food is delivered to their home.  In addition, Hot Dog Mondays are held weekly at First Presbyterian.  These less formal gatherings are held at lunchtime and provide mostly seniors an opportunity to eat and socialize.  Hot Dog Mondays have been held for the past year.  

The community meal is partially supported by Huron’s churches including Christ Episcopal, First Presbyterian, St. Peter’s, Zion Lutheran, Lighthouse Assembly of God, and Huron United Methodist.  Each church supports the meal both financially and by encouraging their members to volunteer.  Despite support from the churches, the financial needs of the community meal are not fully met.  The costs of purchasing food and other items necessary to prepare the meal have risen substantially.  A local retailer who formally donated many items to the community meal now offers these items half off retail price.  Many items are purchased from Second Harvest Food Bank in Lorain, but the demand for items from Second Harvest is great.  

Christ’s Community Meal is a 501(c)(3) organization that is run by a volunteer board.  The board is seeking creative means to raise funds so no one in need will be refused a hot meal.  If you or your business are interested in helping this great cause, please contact Christine Eirons at 419-433-6131.  Gifts of money can be mailed directly to Christ’s Community Meal c/o First Presbyterian Church, 225 Williams St., Huron.  

Volunteers are always welcome and greatly needed.  Serving 100+ meals takes an enormous amount of planning, as well as 25 to 30 volunteers who work as prep cooks, set up the dinning room, serve the meal, tend the dessert table, assist in the dinning room during the meal, clean the dinning room and kitchen, and deliver meals.  Contact Chris Hakeman at 419-433-4903 if you would like to volunteer.

If you are in need of a warm meal, plan to attend the next Christ’s Community Meal on Wednesday, July 8 at 5 PM.  In addition, a special Kids Café will be held on July 13-15.  Call the church office at First Presbyterian (419-433-5018) for more information.  Due to the Kids Café, the Hot Dog Monday schedule for July 13 will be held on Thursday, July 16.