Lunch with Neighbors program to celebrate second year

ELKINS -- The month of October marks the second anniversary of the Lunch With Neighbors program in Elkins, and organizers will host a special fundraiser during the upcoming Mountain State Forest Festival.

For three days next week, Thursday, Oct. 5 through Saturday, Oct. 7, the program's chefs, Marshall Howser and Bill Pingley, will serve up barbecue sandwiches, walking tacos, chili dogs and tasty sides. The food will be offered at an outdoor dining area set up on Fourth Street next to the First United Methodist Church of Elkins from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on each of those days.

The meals are free and everyone is welcome. Donations will be accepted and will go toward supporting the program, which began in 2021 and costs close to $40,000 annually to run.

The program offers free lunches three days a week to anyone in need. Since its inception, Lunch with Neighbors has served more than 30,000 meals.

"We serve the food insecure in Elkins, which includes individuals and families of all ages who have an inadequate income due to disabilities, low wage jobs, inadequate pensions, unemployment and homelessness," said Program Co-Director Greg Johnson.

"We have served over 12,000 meals so far in 2023, and expect to finish the year having served 20,000 meals… The average number of meals per day has risen from 123 in April to 168 in August. We have seen a marked increase in need since SNAP benefits were cut in April and expect this number to continue to increase."

The program receives support from several resources, including a monthly benefit brunch at the First United Methodist Church, Pallotine Foundation Funds, and the United Methodist Foundation. Community donors are also key to keeping the program going, as are donations from Kroger, Sheetz, Shop 'n Save and the Mountaineer Food Bank.

"It is not well-known, but 25 percent of Randolph County children live at or below the federal poverty level," Johnson said. "Visit our schools or spend some time in local grocery stores and you can see this with your own eyes.

"Lunch with Neighbors is helping address local food insecurity. We are hopeful that our Forest Festival Fundraiser will provide enough funds for several weeks of meals."

Lunch with Neighbors is sponsored by the Elkins First United Methodist Church and helped by the support of the Elkins United Christian Community Center, a non-profit eligible to obtain grants.

"Our desire is to not only meet physical needs, but to offer a faith-based example of love and compassion," said First United Methodist Church Pastor Brian Seders. "Often, people can't see an adequate example of concern until a need is met. We hold a spiritual lesson and prayer circle to start each meal. At Lunch with Neighbors, the physical and spiritual working together provide the most authentic witness.

Lunch with Neighbors serves meals each Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the United Methodist Church's Family Life Center in Elkins.