Oak Ridge Unitarian Univeralist Church hosts free Friday meal

This Friday afternoon, April 26 at 5:30 p.m., Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church opens its doors to the community again for its free Friday meal.

All are invited to stop in for a warm bowl of homemade Ham and White Bean Spinach Soup, cornbread, and fresh fruit. Diners can park and come inside the church’s Social Hall to enjoy a meal with others, or walk in to pick up a takeout meal for themselves or family members, a neighbor, or friend. Meals will be served from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., or until supplies run out. Bags of non-perishable groceries will also be available.

This month's meal contains white beans, chicken broth, onion, garlic, carrots, celery, parsley, diced ham, spinach, salt and pepper, and bay leaves. Copies of the recipe will be included with each meal.

Similar to last month’s meal, the Ham and White Bean Spinach Soup will be made with donations from residents of Callaghan Towers, Volunteer Team Leader Jen Stark said earlier this week. Stone Soup volunteers deliver meals to residents there each month, many of whom receive bags of non-perishable groceries from other organizations. Some of the items they receive don’t get used because they require a lot of prep, Stark said. Residents leave these non-perishables in the common room to share with others. One of the program directors at Callaghan Towers encouraged Stone Soup volunteers to take any food left if they can use it.

“The beans we’re using were a donation from Callaghan Towers too,” Stark said. “So we’re able to 'recycle' more food.”

ORUUC hosts this monthly free meal, with financial and volunteer support from its own members and friends at the Jewish Congregation of Oak Ridge. Kroger Marketplace donates the fresh fruit each month.

Last year, the Stone Soup ministry served 1,620 meals, plus an additional 150 meals which were donated for the 13th birthday celebration in September. Volunteers also maintain a small pantry at ORUUC that provides around 20 bags of groceries per month to people in need who request them at the Stone Soup meal and also those who stop by the church office during the week.

Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike, near traffic light #2. All are welcome ... always!

Rachel Smith-Jones is the communications coordinator for Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church.

This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Oak Ridge Unitarian Univeralist Church hosts free Friday meal