Oak Ridge Unitarian church provides free meals this Friday
This Friday, Jan. 27 at 5:30 p.m., community members are invited to drive through the parking lot at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church (ORUUC) to pick up a free meal for themselves, family, friends, or neighbors. On the menu this month: white chicken chili, cornbread, and fresh fruit. Meals and bags of non-perishable groceries will be distributed until 6:30 p.m., or until supplies run out.
Mary Beth Robinson, a member of ORUUC who started volunteering with Stone Soup mid-pandemic, took the lead with this month’s meal.
“We’re going back to some classics,” she said of the meal. “White chicken chili was always served in January.”
Robinson says volunteers are packing around 150 meals this month, a number that has steadily grown since the fall due to increased need. The group is hoping in-person dining will return this year. “We’re always looking for more volunteers. If anyone is interested in the community, contact the church - 483-6761.” Robinson added.
The history of the Stone Soup Meals
This monthly meal is made possible through a long-standing partnership between ORUUC, the Jewish Congregation of Oak Ridge (JCOR), and Kroger Marketplace. Making community connections, forming relationships among volunteers, and sharing meals together were among the goals of this Social Action Working Group at ORUUC when it approached the congregation in 2010 with the idea of Stone Soup. Before COVID-19, volunteers welcomed diners into ORUUC’s Social Hall, where they served the meals. During the pandemic, the team switched gears, first handing out grocery cards, then putting together bagged takeout meals, which continue to be handed out on the final Friday of every month.
“We always enjoy preparing these meals, and look forward to having people come and share this food,” Robinson said.
ORUUC is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike, near traffic light No. 2. Volunteers will be waiting at the loop near the church entrance.
This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Oak Ridge Unitarian church provides free meals this Friday
