WAYNESBORO. – Thirty-six years and nearly 356,000 meals later, The Lunch Place continues its commitment to fighting hunger in Waynesboro.
And now the program, “a Christian organization that serves all of God’s people,” has a new home. A free hot lunch will be available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays in the former Knights of Columbus building at 42 W. Second St. Christ United Methodist, 100 S. Church St, has hosted the program since its inception in 1990.
We’re here to help and we would just love to have them come here,” offered Denise Esser, president of the board of directors.
The Lunch Place was formed when two local organizations, Waynesboro Fellowship of Churches and Waynesboro Area Human Services Council (now Waynesboro Community and Human Services – WCHS) saw a growing need of hunger in the community. “That’s why we started and that hasn’t changed,” added Esser.
Esser, the former executive director at WCHS, also announced The Lunch Place will be conducting a capital campaign “hopefully within the month. We want to get rid of our mortgage as quickly as possible and there will be a lot more expenses. The committee is meeting now to get that started. There will be a mailing and we’re tossing around other fundraising ideas as well.”
Meals are prepared by the chef, Kinte Snead, who is supported by a group of volunteers who help prepare, serve and clean up each day. Without volunteers, the program would not be possible, according to Esser. “We will need a few more volunteers when we move. We’re looking for a greeter to help sign in guests. That’s how we get our (attendance) count. We’re also looking for someone to pick up the food donations each day from Martin’s at 708 E. Main St. That would be really helpful.”
Esser is expecting increased foot traffic at the new location. “We can handle 100 people. Our new location is within walking distance of WCHS and New Hope Shelter, 25 S. Potomac St. We now have a coat room and there are lots of tables and chairs that the Knights of Columbus left for us. And now we have the space for cooking classes that Kinte wants to teach.”
The Lunch Place relies on monetary and food donations to serve those in need. Fresh or canned fruit and vegetables, meats and paper products are accepted. “We are supported by community churches and donations. We don’t receive any grants or funding from the government or other source,” Esser added. In addition to the donations from Martin’s, The Lunch Place also receives items from organization events, “leftover food like chicken or hot dogs that have not been cooked or packages of rolls, for instance.
“Our meals revolve around donations, and Kinte comes up with really good menu ideas,” said Esser, who interacts with clients when she and her mother stop by for lunch. “He knows what he has and works with that. Donations from people’s gardens are a wonderful thing to have.”
Esser said the board of directors first thought about moving to a new location when WCHS relocated across the street to the Boro Plaza two years ago. The Lunch Place rented a suite in the plaza for a year. “We were getting prices to install a commercial kitchen in that space. It was expected to cost $400,000 and the price kept going up. We realized it wasn’t a good move and didn’t renew the lease, and then learned the Knights of Columbus was selling its building. It was an answer to prayer – a great space and a great location – close to New Hope Shelter and WCHS.
“The church didn’t want us out,” Esser stressed. “The church building was filled up with Noah’s Ark Christian Childcare Center. They were using classrooms in the basement, and we had to make sure our clients were out no later than 12:45. The children needed to go through fellowship hall (where meals are served) to get to the restroom, and the other issue was our volunteers needed more clearances (from the church) in order to volunteer, more than what our program requires.”
Esser is looking forward to the move. “We have a couple of things to do in the kitchen, installing a commercial stove and adding a dishwasher. We hope to open there in three months. That’s our goal. All of our volunteers are working hard to make this happen.”
Donations can be made in person or mailed to The Lunch Place, P.O. Box 43, Waynesboro PA 17268.
For more information or to volunteer, readers may call 717-762-7042 or visit www.thelunchplace.org.
