LOGAN – Last Saturday, approximately 60 people gathered at the First Presbyterian Church in Logan for Loaves and Fishes Community Meal, served by 25 volunteers from the Cache West Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
On the first and third Saturday of every month, community members gather at the church located at 179 west Center in Logan to share a free meal, mingle and have a face-to-face conversation. For some it is the only time they are not eating by themselves.
The idea came when founder Rachel von Niederhausern volunteered to serve at a Salt Lake City homeless shelter and got a glimpse of the benefits of people coming together for a common meal.
That experience opened her eyes to a larger need. It was more than food, it was an opportunity for the people in the community to gather, have nourishment for body and soul, and be together, she said. Since April of 2011, Loaves and Fishes has served a regular, nutritious meal for free to anyone in the community.
“Cache Valley didn’t have anything like what I saw there at the homeless shelter. It was something more than feeding the people; it was providing an atmosphere of love,” said the mother of seven. “Even if they didn’t have money to buy food, there was a place to eat, find friendship and community support.”
von Niederhausern and her family started with a free Christmas meal and it blossomed into twice-a-month Loaves and Fishes.
“It has grown steadily over the years. We had 50 to 75 meals in the beginning and it has steadily grown to 200 meals and sometimes up to 400 meals,” she said. “During a year’s time we served over 4,800 meals, as a low estimate.”
Not all of the meals are eaten at the church, they deliver some to other organizations and individuals. They have 700 hours of volunteer time. Most of the different faiths in the valley volunteer to help and serve at the twice-a-month meal.
“I think Loaves and Fishes is better than we could have ever dreamed of,” von Niederhausern said. “It could be the people who prepare and serve the food for the body, mind and soul of those who come to eat. It could also be the deep friendships made by bringing a diverse community around a common table.”
Richard West of Cache Community Connections came by Saturday to visit with people enjoying the dinner and get a feel for how the dinner was going.
“Loaves and Fishes was nurtured a long time by the Cache Community Connections,” he said. ”It has since organized itself and governed by an independent organization.
“Board members are all prominent members of the community that are invested in the program. From the very beginning it has been held at the First Presbyterian Church.”
The church has a well-stocked commercial kitchen adjacent to a large hall with tables and chairs. Their investment in the program – their equipment and facilities – can’t be overstated, West said.
“The investment by the First Presbyterian Church is big. They have been there from the beginning,” he said. “The Loaves and Fishes Community Meal began as a community-wide interfaith effort. It brings our diverse community together around a common table.”
The twice-a-month meal nourishes body and spirit through relationship, service, and fellowship. The program welcomes anyone and everyone to come have something to eat and build friendships and associations.
“Loaves And Fishes nourishes the spirit by bringing together diverse religious and community organizations to provide food and fellowship for anyone in the Cache Valley community,” West added. “Our hope is to nurture our community and build relationships across religious, political, social, and economic boundaries.”
The food for the dinners is donated by the Latter-day Saint church’s Bishops’ Storehouse, the Cache Community Food Pantry, and other local businesses.
“The meal is not merely an opportunity for residents to enjoy a free meal; it’s a place for members of the community to get to know one another,” he said. “Volunteers are told the best way to help is to simply eat alongside someone they don’t know and would not typically encounter in a given day.”
The regular attendees say it is the only meal they eat with companionship.
“We need more people not just to volunteer to serve, we need more to come participate, eat, join in fellowship and become a part of their community,” West said.
The next Loaves and Fishes meal will be Saturday Nov. 19 from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.
You said Saturday, November 18. You intended to say Saturday, November 19.