By Christine Vincent
Six days a week, 30 – 100 hungry Harborites line up in front of the glass doors of Saint Mary Catholic Church for a hot meal. They are served by Saint Mary Feed the Hungry volunteers, a program of Catholic Community Services of Western Washington. Everybody is welcome.
An hour before volunteers arrive, Judy Folden, coordinator of Feed the Hungry, opens the backdoor to the kitchen. Originally from Portland, Judy has lived on the Harbor for 50 years. When asked why she works for Feed the Hungry, she replies without hesitation. “Food is a basic need to be taken care of before people can improve their lives.”
Catholic Church before Monday’s crew of volunteers arrives.
Judy says that the work is physically demanding. It requires lifting heavy items and standing for hours. Because volunteers work for four hours, most of them are retired and typically parishioners of Saint Mary Catholic Church and other Grays Harbor churches. A few younger people are involved and sometimes a family takes over the Sunday session. Aberdeen High School Life Skills students help as part of their course work. The Grays Harbor College nutrition class sends students twice a month.
The predominant characteristic of Feed the Hungry volunteers is long-term commitment. Judy’s predecessor, Jane Mezzera, coordinated the program for 18 years. Judy herself has served for 13 years. Tom and Linda Isaacson stayed the longest term of 32 years followed by Judy Ball with 25 years. Judy Folden remembers 17-18 retirees who served until their death. Two much-loved members of the program, Jeannie Lindstrom and Jackie Brown, passed away recently and are greatly missed by volunteers and guests alike. Feeding the hungry gives retirees a purpose in life and an opportunity to serve in the company of friends.
An unusually large percentage of young volunteers work in the Monday crew. A 23-year-old disabled young man currently assists three or four older volunteers and three homeschooled siblings aged 12, 13 and 16.
Ron Higginbotham has worked at the Feed the Hungry for 20 years. Born in Iowa, Ron moved to Aberdeen 45 years ago. He worked as a forester for Weyerhaeuser and retired early to be able to devote his time to church ministry. Ron likes to give back to the community.
While sautéing onions, Ron talks about the guests. “Most are friendly and well behaved,” he says. Smiling, Ron mentions one regular diner who thanks each volunteer personally, once before and once after each meal. Occasionally, quarrels occur among the diners but some regulars will speak up and make them behave. Ron served as chef for the Monday crew for many years before passing this challenging task to Chris Morgan who joined the program five years ago.
A native of Buffalo, New York, Chris came to the Harbor with her husband, Chuck, in 2006. Severe back problems forced Chris to retire from her nursing job while still in her 40’s. “It was hard,” she remembers. “I was lonely and depressed. This all changed when I joined Feed the Hungry. I like to give back but the work here has also been a blessing for me.” Indeed, the new Chris is cheerful and eagerly taking charge. She usually comes in on Fridays to plan the Monday meal. She enjoys the challenge to create tasty dinners from the miscellany of donated foods.
Stephan Severson is 23 and disabled. He has volunteered at the ARC and the Salvation Army but considers Feed the Hungry his favorite organization. “I like to help people,” he says with a smile. “I set the tables, open cans, and get out the food. I do whatever is needed.” A demonstration follows when he lifts a heavy can from a high shelf for Chris who is a short lady.
This Monday, the group of guests is on the small side. Approximately 30 diners file past the friendly servers and settle down with their meals of tuna casserole, soup, corn, green salad, fresh oranges and a lovingly decorated Easter cake. Some say they would eat a much smaller meal if this program were not available. Others would not eat at all. They come for the food but also for the company in a warm and safe place. The Feed the Hungry program feeds both, the body and the soul, on both sides of the serving counter.
Feed the Hungry is always in need of food, especially proteins. This April, they need paper bowls as well as volunteers to help with deep cleaning the kitchen on Friday afternoons. Please call 360-593-0887 or 360-533-9470 to learn more about supporting Feed the Hungry.
Feed the Hungry provides free meals Monday through Friday at noon and on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. There are no meals on Saturday. Saint Mary Catholic Church’s dining hall is located at 308 E Third Street in Aberdeen.
