MOUNT VERNON — As food prices rise and the economy worsens, the number of Knox Countians dining at Mount Vernon’s nightly hot meals is rapidly rising.
Volunteers at the eight churches hosting the program said they have noticed big changes.
At Gay Street United Methodist Church, kitchen manager and hot meals coordinator Mary Cline said the church has seen a huge increase.
“We’ve always had a couple families, mom, dad and two to three children, but now we have three or four regular families,” she said. “We also have more single mothers, some with children under a year old. We usually serve 30 to 40 people, but we went over 60 meals on the second Friday of July.
“I really think numbers will keep going up,” said Cline, “because usually it’s the latter part of the month when our numbers increase. I was very surprised to see that many people that early in the month, on the second week, because usually they have enough money to get them through the first part of the month.”
Cline said Gay Street Methodist funds its hot meals program entirely; most other churches utilize the Mid-Ohio Food Bank, which offers nonprofit organizations that meet their guidelines food at a discount.
“Our average attendance in June was 59 guests, 76 plates used [hot meals guests may ask for second, third or more helpings],” said the Rev. R. Keith Stuart of First Congregational United Church of Christ. “On July 1 we had 46 guests and 56 plates; on July 15, 61 guests and 80 plates, and we ran out of food. The volunteers didn’t get to eat that night.”
On the last Tuesday of July, more than 50 guests at FCUCC were served meals on more than 90 plates.
“The disturbing thing is that there are more toddlers and babies at our meals. And our teenage population continues to grow,” said Stuart.
The Rev. Jamie Gump, who pastors First Christian Disciples of Christ Church, said hot meals volunteers at his church have also noticed a difference.
“We’ve had an increase too, and a lot of different people we’ve never seen before. We have new people each week now,” said Gump. “And I’m noticing there are a lot of younger people, teens and early teens, more younger kids than we’ve had before.
“Mid-Ohio Food Bank is having difficulties getting donations,” added Gump. “They used to have lots of food available, but now they have only fresh produce.”
Jean Bertschy, hot meals coordinator at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, said that program’s numbers are definitely increasing.
“We started our program just a year ago in July, and we served 15 people at that first meal,” she said. “This July, we averaged 45 people at each meal, and we served as many as 72 meals at the end of June. We’re seeing more teenagers, not a lot of babies and small children, but more entire families now than when we first started. We’re seeing a lot of new faces, too.
“And the people who come seem to be quite hungry,” said Bertschy. “It’s not unusual for them to come back for seconds, and even thirds. They truly are hungry. And we’d love to be serving more young people, because I know they’re struggling. We’d welcome them with open arms.”
Gump explained that hot meals is about more than food.
“It’s not just for people who are hungry or who need food,” he said, “but it’s also for people who need to eat with someone. One fellow told me, ‘It’s so nice not having to eat alone.’”
Cline, who also cooks at the Middle Ground Cafe in Gambier, said she has good connections with local farmers and can often get fresh, locally raised and organic produce for hot meals. She always has a backup meal ready to prepare, should her church have a sudden influx of guests. Church volunteers make homemade desserts to serve each week.
The Faith Community Garden, a new project of St. Paul’s, FCUCC, Harcourt Parish and Faith Lutheran Church, which hosts the garden plot on Mansfield Avenue, is also now producing for the hot meals program. Approximately one-third of the garden space was dedicated for hot meals food, and volunteers have already harvested yellow squash, zucchini, onions, green beans, cabbage and cucumbers.
“It’s good that we have so many people involved in the hot meals program,” said Gump, “and that we have all these people from all these congregations to help. We cover all seven weekly meals now, which is great. I’m just happy the program is still going strong.”
“Poverty is here in Knox County,” added Bertschy, “but it’s often hidden in the rural areas, where people can’t see it.”
“I’m glad we’re here to help, but I’m sad that the numbers are growing,” said Stuart.
Free hot meals are served on Mondays, First Presbyterian Church, 102 N. Gay St., 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesdays, First Congregational United Church of Christ, 200 N. Main St., 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., in partnership with St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church; Wednesdays, Central Church of Christ, 1005 Harcourt Road, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.; Thursdays, First Christian Church, 110 E. Vine St., 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.; Fridays, Gay Street United Methodist Church, 18 N. Gay St., 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.; Saturdays, Mount Vernon Seventh-day Adventist City Church, 425 S. Edgewood Road, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.; and Sundays, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Parish House, 100 E. High St., 5 to 6 p.m.
No proof of income is required.
