Community Dinners at Holy Trinity
A free dinner, started by a parishioner, is served every Friday night from 4:45-5:30 p.m. in the Holy Trinity Parish Hall for over 50 people. Attendees are people from the local area who have limited resources. Many have been coming for years.
From September to May, hot food is served, and during the summer, a bag-lunch meal is served.
Volunteers include parishioners, and outside groups. Anyone is welcome to help. See volunteer positions.
More Information on Community Dinners
16 years ago, in 1988, Christine Campbell, a teacher at Upland County Day School, founded "Share and Care".
While Christine was a member of Holy Trinity, the project was an ecumenical effort of several local churches, including Calvary Lutheran and St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Downingtown.
The name was later changed to "Community Dinners".
The purpose was two fold:
- To feed the homeless, hungry, and lonely people;
- To provide an opportunity young people to become aware of community needs and to help meet those needs.
In 1998, Sue Smith became chairperson for 2 years. Betty Engan became co-chair with Sarah McGovern of St. Joseph's church in Downingtown, later, with Mary Raymond and then with Kit Retalick.
Al Newnham and Betty Engan currently are the required Licensed Food Handlers.
Currently we serve a meal to about fifty people each Friday night from 4:45-5:30 p.m. From September to May, hot food is served, and during the summer, a bag-lunch meal is served.
Anyone is welcome to attend the free dinners. The majority of our guests come from the Salvation Army and Safe Harbor shelters. Some come from the Denny-Reyburn Housing near our church. Several of our guests have been coming to our Friday night suppers for years.
Since the program began, Community Dinners has been supported as an Outreach ministry of Holy Trinity Church.
Our budget for 2006 is $7000 to provide 2,400 meals.
Since 2004, the Holy Trinity Wine Tasting and Silent Auction has provided the funds for Community Dinners and other outreach Programs.
This year, the Christmas bags were decorated by Calvary Lutheran Sunday School, Church Nazarene Church School and Holy Trinity. The bags were filled with gifts provided by Holy Trinity and St Joseph's RC Church.
WHAT VOLUNTEERS DO? Weekly, adult and youth volunteers fix salad and dessert to supplement the entree purchased from Aramark, the food-service provider at West Chester University. They also set up the tables, serve the dinners, and clean up afterwards.
Weekly volunteers (approximately 12 people):
- Dinner Coordinator - Provide overall supervision for preparation, set-up and clean-up
- Salad Makers (2 volunteers)
- Bread Pick-up Driver - Pick up bread from Pepperidge Farms in Parkway and take to Holy Trinity
- Set-up Crew (2 -3 volunteers) Arrange tables, setout place settings, prepare deserts and drinks. Suitable for high school and college students
- Serving and Clean-up (4 volunteers) Suitable for middle school students through adults
- Greeter - act as Host or Hostess and to interact with the guests
- Desserts Pick-up Driver - Pick up bread from Entenmanns in Exton and take to Holy Trinity.
- Chair or Co-chair -
- Schedules volunteers
- Contacts community for schedule changes
- Arrange for Food with vendor
- Maintain inventories of supplies
- Maintains liaison with Holy Trinity Vestry and other Funding/donor groups
- Licensed Food Handler - may be combined with another position
- Treasurer - Handles accounting duties
- Fund Raising Projects
- Wreath and Roping before Christmas,
- Wine And Cheese Fund Raiser in May
- Christmas Party – Decorate bags, provide gifts, stuff bags with gifts, distribute gifts.
Salad Makers (2 volunteers needed) - One Friday a month, 3-4:30 p.m. Will train
Dinner Coordinator (2 volunteers needed) - Provide overall supervision for preparation, set-up and clean-up. One Friday a month, from 3 - 6 p.m.
Pick-up Driver - Weekly on Friday after 11:30. Pick up bread from Pepperidge Farms in Parkway and take to Holy Trinity.
To volunteer for the Community Dinners, contact Holy Trinity Episcopal Church at 610-696-4640.
1-2 easily portable fans for summer use in the kitchen.
Donations of money are always welcome.
1988 |
Began to feed the homeless, hungry and to involve youth with community service. Name was “Care and Share”. Cooking was done at Holy Trinity- one person paid to be cook, others helped. Ecumenical support from some churches |
1998 |
Susan Smith took over as Chairman. Meals were prepared from leftovers delivered from a caterer. . Betty Engan, from Holy Trinity, became co-chair with Susan. |
1999 |
Sue Smith moved to Canada. Sarah McGovern of St .Joseph’s RC church, Downingtown and Betty Engan became co-chairs. Betty also became a licensed Food Handler.. |
2000-2001 |
Kit Retallick replaced Sue McGovern as Co-chair. |
2001 |
Entrée provider changed from Chester County Hospital to Aramark, WC University. |
Summer of 2003 and 2004 |
Cold meals funded by Community dinner, delivered to Salvation Army. |
Spring 2004 |
Wine tasting and silent auction initiated as Holy Trinity Outreach fund raiser benefiting Community Dinners. |
Summer 2005 |
Summer Meals (Bag Lunches) served at Holy Trinity |
Spring 2006 |
Co-Chairs Engan and Retallick retire and are replaced by |