The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Church serves weekly meals

Ferguson attempts suicide after being found guilty on all 32 counts
11/21/09
Neighbors still trying  to recover from fatal fire
11/20/09
Churches want end to ‘shooting and killing’
11/20/09
Gun turn-in will include some questions
11/20/09
State jobless rate jumps to 10.5 percent
11/20/09
> More headlines

By Lynn Minneman, Staff Writer 4:12 PM Thursday, October 15, 2009

Earlier this year, Lalah Kline and a group of friends began looking for a way to help the community.

“I belong to Trinity Lutheran Church in Lewisburg and in March a group from the church was looking for something we could do to serve the community as our response to the economic downturn,” she wrote in an e-mail. “The ministry was born at a Mutual Ministry Meeting — a night when all committees meet and come together at the beginning to share ideas, concerns, devotions, etc.”

Kline said the idea originated last fall when winds from Hurricane Ike came through and volunteers provided free meals for the community.

“At that time, many people in Lewisburg were without power for a week, or more, but the church had power, so long-time members, Russ and Melanie Robert, took it upon themselves to cook meals for those in the community who had no power.”

“The idea was well received and appreciated — then when we were together in March and talking about the economic downturn, I mentioned these meals and wondered aloud whether we might do that again on a regular basis.”

Kline said with the positive response, by the end of the evening they had people planning menus for a month. Now, the weekly meals serve around 130 folks each Wednesday evening.

There is a “steering committee” made up of church members Kline, Carol Gebhart, Charlotte Parsons, Mary Kay Lefeld and Melanie Robert, but others in other churchs and the community come to help, too.

“Each week around 12-15 people can be found in the kitchen,” Kline said.

“More than 50 people, ages seven to 80-plus have helped at one time or another and most people who come to eat are from the Lewisburg area, but some come from elsewhere in the county.”

Kline said the local food bank (which serves people in the Tri-County North School District) is at the church and open Wednesday evenings so people can have dinner and get assistance from the food bank.

“Last week I had the pleasure of introducing a woman who had foreclosure worries to a couple who had ‘been there’ and they were able to give her some helpful information as well as some emotional support,” Kline said.

“Last Wednesday (Oct. 7) the local Cub Scout Pack 511 was cooking and serving the meal and did a great job — we served a record 175 meals,” she said.

The meal is free, with donations accepted.

To volunteer services, money or food, e-mail lalahkline@gmail.com or call (937) 962-4893.

HEREABOUTS lynn minneman

Share this article