Luke’s Lunches seek to give people a sense of community
As one enters through the doors of St. Luke’s Hall on a day when free lunch is being offered, you cannot help but be enveloped by the warm atmosphere that seems to surround the place.
For several years, a dedicated group of community volunteers offered free monthly lunches at St. Gertrude’s Catholic Church Hall in Woodstock on Saturdays, but the program ended more than a decade ago.
Recently, St. Luke’s Anglican Church revived the popular monthly event.
On Monday, Aug. 24, people chatted fervently, and those approaching the hall were quickly invited to join.
Taking a seat and beginning to enjoy your meal alongside others, this reporter couldn’t shake the feeling that this program had achieved what many only attempt: a sense of community.
”Nancy [English] has a particular passion for outreach and for a long time, she wanted dinner church… and then it evolved into the idea of how do we serve the needs in the community,” said Rev. Maria Shephardson, Archdeacon of Woodstock and Rector of the Anglican Parish of Woodstock and Richmond.
According to English, the idea came from services held by Rev. Harold Boomer, who led several church dinners.
“I thought it was a wonderful way to meet people; people were there because some of them didn’t like eating alone,” said English.
She, along with other members of the Outreach Committee, soon met to discuss adopting it in their own community and, with it, a secular version that would eventually become Luke’s Lunches.
“We saw the need in the community that there were a lot of people going to the food bank, and especially with the price of food going up, that we should offer this time they can come in,” said Janis Richard, discussing why she felt the initiative was needed.
The free lunches are held once a month at St. Luke’s Anglican Hall on Main Street in Woodstock.
The meals range from soup and sandwiches to hot dogs and chips, with desserts, and are held on the third or fourth Monday of every month.
Attendees are also welcome to take an additional meal with them as they leave.
Funding for the meals is provided in-house through the Anglican Church, said Rev. Shephardson.
Since it started in May, only a few individuals have attended the lunches; however, the numbers are slowly increasing as word gets out.
The team, however, seems more than eager to encourage further attendance.
“It would be nice in the summer [if] perhaps some kids could come and have a free meal,” said English, highlighting one group that could benefit from the program.
In addition to the food itself, organizers also say that they are serving up something equally important: community.
“[One of the purposes of the program is] just having a chat with somebody, maybe we’re the first person they might have a chat with all day,” said English.
“I’d say that we would have more folks who come in that aren’t normally attending functions at our church hall, or at all in the church; it would be wonderful to see a few more folks here,” said Jill Craig, member of the Outreach Committee.
“People are finding isolation post-COVID increasingly difficult to shake off, and we have a heart in the church for the community,” said Rev. Shephardson.
“Our big vision is to be community for community, and we felt that people just need to know they can come through a door, they can have a meal no questions asked, [and] can interact with us as much or as little as they like, but the idea is fellowship,” added Rev. Shephardson.
