Renew spawns meals

Young and old, men and women, individuals and families come every Friday to enjoy a homemade dinner and the company of others, and they're treated as valued patrons, according to Mike Shrader, co-coordinator of Friday's Table.

"They absolutely love it, and it's wonderful to see them get respect. They deserve to be treated in a good manner," he said.

Renew effort

"We were discussing how we could do more than just talk faith, what we could do in the community," he said. "We're Catholics, and we go to church, but what can we do to actually help people?"

Some parishioners, including Donald Fleischut, had been helping out with the Salvation Army's food pantry, and Renew 2000 participants wondered if there was something they could do. After surveying other churches and agencies, they learned that none offered Friday meals, and Sacred Heart had found its answer in Friday's Table.

"We didn't know what we were going to call it. We just wanted to serve dinner to people in our community who were down and needed a little help," Mr. Shrader said.

Feeding the hungry

Dinner is served at 5:30 p.m., but "people will begin coming in at 4:30," Mr. Shrader said. "We don't care if it's someone who doesn't need it from a monetary standpoint. They may need it socially."

Friday's Table doesn't rely on parish funds but on individual donations of money and food to offer its meals. A local farmer often donates fresh vegetables, and the General Electric Elfun Society came through with a timely $300 donation. Even patrons occasionally contribute to the program.

Patrons dine with silverware and plates, and they're treated as special guests by volunteers. "We try to give them the dignity and respect that they may not be getting elsewhere," Mr. Shrader said.

Volunteer effort

"Most of the time, people have come to us instead of us going to them," Mr. Shrader said.

Six teams of five or six volunteers take turns helping at Friday's Table, and their service is what makes the program so special, according to Mr. Shrader, who added: "The real miracle is not the meals we're serving, but the way the volunteers have come forth. So many people come out and work every Friday."

(10-07-99) [[In-content Ad]]