by Kirby Lindsay, posted 26 March 2012
Every Wednesday from 5p – 6:30p the entire community is invited to join together for a free community dinner. “The best way to build relationships is over a good meal,” explained Lindsay Anderson, organizer of the Community Dinners program for Fremont – one of four Dinners currently being served around North Seattle.
“We’re not government subsidized,” Anderson stated, “and we’re not a soup kitchen.” While a lot of the diners who take up this generous offer are low (or no) income, all are invited – particularly people seeking a human connection. “It’s an open invitation to everyone,” Anderson offered, “we always have plenty of food here.”
A Dinner of Fellowship & Culture
The program is called ‘Community Dinners,’ and the tag line – a warm meal among friends – captures the spirit behind this effort to bring people together over good food, live music and art, and prayer (offered at the end – and guests can leave before the prayer starts.)
Anderson and a team of volunteers serve up the weekly meal at Doric Lodge #92, here in Fremont, every Wednesday. On Tuesdays, another Community Dinner is served in Ballard, and Thursdays on Greenwood. On Sundays, a similar group of volunteers serves a community brunch at the Bitter Lake Community Center – after the Westminster Community Church service.
“The structure of the dinners is identical,” Anderson observed, “the culture is different. Each one has a different vibe.” No one tracks who attends which meals, and where they come from, so diners can travel between locations, but Anderson has observed that each meal tends to develop its own community and interconnections among guests and volunteers.
Guest, Or Volunteer – All Are Welcome
“We’ve been here about a year,” explained Anderson about the Fremont Dinners. A-frame (sandwich board) signs have directed the curious to them dinner, and word-of-mouth remains the primary method of outreach – a good tool for reaching the homeless and hungry.
“We aim towards the impoverished and the marginalized,” she admitted, although she wants to reach out more to, “people who are not necessarily poor, but socially poor. Seattle has such a high degree of people who live alone.” Community Dinners allow neighbors to come in, fill a plate and either sit at a table with strangers and engage in conversation – or choose a seat alone while still feeling part of something.
“We’ve had a good response at this site,” Anderson reported, with a core group of regular attendees. They’ve also had guests transition into volunteers, ready to help with set-up at 4p. This fits well in the mission behind the Dinners – to serve one another.
Of the four meals taking place, so far, around Seattle, Fremont has the smallest number of guests each week but Anderson still remarked, “I’ve been encouraged by the growth I’ve seen.” As she said, “We’ve had a few Fremont neighbors come in, and volunteer. This has probably been one of our stronger locations for neighborly participation.”
Prayer Time, For Those Who Want To Stay
After the meal, each evening concludes with a reading from the life of Christ, with a slight discussion and prayer. “You don’t have to stay,” Anderson remarked. Handouts and table centerpieces state clearly that the prayer time is only for those who want to stay. “There have been occasions where people left,” Anderson admitted, “but over time, they sometimes stay. That’s been encouraging.”
Community Dinners get funding through private donors – particularly the tithes and offerings of the Westminster Community Church congregation. A donation box sits near the buffet table, but no one mentions payment. This is about gathering people to eat and enjoy together.
Westminster Community Church began, over 100 years ago, in Fremont as Fremont Tabernacle. The Assembly Of God church relocated, years ago, to Shoreline where the Church still owns property. Today, however, the congregation holds weekly services at 10:30a every Sunday at Bitter Lake Community Center.
‘Building That Sense Of Community’
While the Church is about worship, it is also about community. “We’re here to build friendships,” Anderson explained, about the Community Dinners program. They want to build friendships, and those friendships are not conditional based on attendance to the prayer.
“We want to build friendships,” Anderson explained, especially between those of different economic backgrounds, “we want to build bridges.” Find out more about the Community Dinners through the website – or stop by between 5p and 6:30p any Wednesday, at Doric Lodge #92.
The Fremont Dinners have been, “one of our most successful in building that sense of community.” Guests eat for free, but those who wish to contribute financially – and might feel guilty about eating for free – can leave a few bucks in the donation bucket located near the buffet table. Stop by, fill a plate, sit down and meet neighbors – just to say hello!
To find out about volunteering – and getting service credits, if needed – visit the website!
Related Articles
- Seattle Pacific University Blessed With Tent City 3
- by Kirby Lindsay, March 19, 2012
- Hallows Church Gathers In Fremont
- by Kirby Lindsay, January 11, 2012
- A Bridge For The Community To Take Back
- by Kirby Lindsay, October 1, 2010
©2012 Kirby Lindsay. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.