Boo Smith is a longtime member of Hope Community Church in Niles and helps with the free community lunch offered at Trinity Episcopal Church in Niles from approximately noon to 1:30 p.m. each Saturday. This lunch ministry is in conjunction with Trinity Episcopal Church, Hope Community Church, Wesley United Methodist Church and Trinity Lutheran Church. Volunteers from each church take turns hosting the lunch. It is open to anyone.

 

How did Hope Community Church get involved in the community lunch?

We couldn’t do a community lunch from our building because it is clear out on Lake Street. It needed to be in a more central location. We found out that the Episcopal Church had already been doing a community lunch once a month. They were interested in having other churches join them so that every Saturday a lunch could be served at Episcopal Church. We decided we wanted to be part of that, so we have been for six or seven years. I’ve been helping since the very beginning.

 

How many people come to each lunch?

On average I’d say 70 to 75. Sometimes it is many more, depending on the time of the year.

 

Who comes to the lunches?

Single ladies, gentlemen, people with children — all types of people. It is for anybody that wants to come. Some come for social aspects and companionship. One lady said she lived alone and that the only time she can sit and enjoy a conversation with someone she is eating with is at the community lunch.

We have a good group from our church that volunteers to bring in food to be served during the lunch when it is our turn. We do the main dish and we have others that do side dishes and desserts and others that help serve. There are at least eight people who go every time it is our turn. We have a list of about 30 people we can call to prepare a dish for the lunch.

 

What do you enjoy most about volunteering for the community lunch?

I think it is visiting with the people that come in and serving them — it is such a goodwill feeling. I also enjoy the feeling we have with the other churches. We are all Christian people working toward the same goal. It is a great feeling.

 

How do people help out?

All they have to do is volunteer by contacting their church. We can always use more volunteers.

 

Why is it important to volunteer?

It is good for me and for the people that use our services. If I am able to help somebody else that needs help I think that is part of my duty as a good citizen interested in being part of a good community. You can’t have a good community without people who are interested in helping others.