Buttons and Service

On Wednesdays I feed the hungry. Of course I don't do it alone, I do it with some amazingly talented and committed people who love to cook and to serve others, but it was my idea and so I take great pride in it. Our motto is " no one should eat alone on Wednesdays" We serve a free lunch and dinner in the church hall to all who show up. Lunch is homemade soup and bread or rolls or adorable little tasty corn muffinsl Supper is Simple - a one dish meal - it is actually called Simple Supper. And, of course, we don't feed the only the physically hungry, we feed the hungry of spirit, the hungry or heart as well - and it is so much fun.
This week while I chopped and peeled, diced and sliced I had a black button in my pocket. The thing about the black button is that it has a tiny, almost imperceptible, blue ring in the middle of it. Feathery. Easy to miss, though the blue is really quite vibrant once you notice. Community Lunch and Simple Supper is like that . It is solid with razzle dazzle hiding right dead center.
Our first customers on our very first day, were a bevy of men who live in a group home setting. We were so happy to see them and they were so happy to be there. A match made in heaven. Their favorite soup is Campbell's Tomato - the only one not home made though we do doctor it up a bit, but they are amazingly adventuresome with our concoctions. We have children as young as four helping and an 82 year old woman ladleing up the yummy broth. We have community service workers joining in and professional cooks dropping off batches of soup l Local farmers happily donate produce. We are blessed beyond measure.
The blue ring of vibrant color - how does that show up Wednesday after Wednesday? That is the blue flame of committment on the part of the people who shop and prep and cook and it is also in the eyes of the friendly folk who say :"thank you" as they push back their chairs, bellies full share a hand shake or a hug. If you are in our neighborhood any Wednesday, please, join us.