Shawna Chilcoat returned to the Vincent United Methodist Church kitchen Monday to operate the microwave while Becky Nelson stirred green beans as she prepared Monday's dinner for the hungry. are doing.
Hunger is an ongoing problem that requires continued efforts, so a group of community volunteers, with help from local churches, are trying to put new meals on the table.
After a soft launch in February, the group is serving a ham and potato dinner this Monday night, the first of a series of monthly dinners held on the last Monday of each month at Minot's Vincent United Methodist Church. Established.
“We thought, given our economic situation, there are a lot of people in our community who are food insecure right now.” said volunteer Becky Nelson. “We chose Monday as a good day to start because if people are food insecure all weekend, they're going to be hungry by Monday.”
About 70 people were served last Monday. Head Start employees volunteered to coordinate children's activities, including spring planting for young participants, and Mark and Vincent, along with Pastor Ehrmantraut, told stories related to the Easter season. Readings that share Bible lessons will continue to be part of regular meetings that are open to all who wish to participate.
This meal project evolved from work already being done by a group of Vincent women who were cooking Tuesdays for Project BEE's warming facility and men's winter shelter. After Ehrmantraut brought up the concept of community-based meals, Bonnie Oakes and her congregation enlisted the help of her friend Nelson to meet with her and her pastor to run a pilot. I planned it. Eight to 10 volunteers prepared the spaghetti meal, nearly half of whom were not members of Vincentian Congregation.
Renee Hermanson prepares desserts for a community dinner Monday at Vincent United Methodist Church.
“We’ve had great community support.” Ehrmantraut said of donating meals. In addition to generous donors in the community, some local restaurants have provided additional supplies. The project received a grant from the Dakota United Methodist Foundation, and the church is seeking other grants as well.
Serving Minot through community meals allows the church to practice its faith and build relationships with its neighbors, Ehrmantraut said.
“At least the Jesus I knew, there was a lot of conversation and real ministry going on around the table, where they were just sharing food and talking about real life.” He said.
In addition, free meals are part of the church's mission to love and care for people, and Vincent is proud to be a part of the Church's mission to love and care for people, and Vincent is proud to be part of the Church's mission to provide free goods to those in need, as well as the outdoor blessing boxes that provide free items to those in need, as well as the Christmas Miracle that provides free food. He said that he is trying to achieve this through the event. , shopping and gift wrapping. The regional collaboration that emerged through these activities laid the foundation for today's local school lunch support.
Nelson said the goal is to expand the program to include additional monthly meals. As awareness grows, she said, they are ready to serve at least 100 people, a number common at other soup kitchens in Minot.
Minot's Soup Kitchen serves midday meals five days a week and dinner twice every Wednesday and Thursday. The newest kitchen on the dining schedule will be serving again at Vincent's, 1024 2nd St. SE, on April 29th at 6 p.m.
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Renee Hermanson prepares desserts for a community dinner Monday at Vincent United Methodist Church.
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Shawna Chilcoat returned to the Vincent United Methodist Church kitchen Monday to operate the microwave while Becky Nelson stirred green beans as she prepared Monday's dinner for the hungry. are doing.
