Celebrating three years of feeding community
Church, city officials savor the Community Meal’s milestone
Rev. Andrew Harmon, of St. Matthew’s, gathered plates for two hungry guests as Dee Palivoda, of North Royalton United Methodist Church, assisted him during the first ever North Royalton Community Meal hosted April 27, 2014. File photo by JAIME ANTON
NORTH ROYALTON – Nourishing body and soul through food and fellowship and loving thy neighbor ... this perfectly sums up the purpose of the North Royalton Community Meal, which celebrates three years breaking bread with residents this month.
The original intent of that first meal in April 2014, sponsored by eight area churches at the time, was to feed the hungry but quickly morphed into a way to feed community spirit too, giving all an excuse to sit down, relax and enjoy a bite to eat with neighbors, strangers, family and friends.
Three years in and the program is flourishing.
“I believe it has gone remarkably well. It began growing every month until we reached the 200 guests mark,” said St. Albert the Great’s Rev. Edward Estok. “I believe it is successful in that good-hearted people attract good-hearted people by engaging in compassionate and community-building efforts. Many people are alone and needy. The compassionate ministry of the body of Christ, the Christian churches, it is appreciated by people who are in need.”
Pastor Dave Timm, head of Royal Redeemer’s care ministry, said this creates a connection with many of the people that regularly come to the church for the food pantry. The church also welcomes in new people who come to the meal and find out what else the church offers to help them through some tough times.
“I believe that God smiles down on this program for two reasons: it provides food and fellowship for those in need, a place that they can come as they are and feel like they belong, and, two, God would want all of the churches in a community to work together to glorify Him and to take care of his children,” Timm said.
The community meal came about after the Cleveland Food Bank mentioned to St. Albert a need existed not only in Cleveland, but right in the church’s backyard. It estimated about 5 percent of the North Royalton population qualifies for its services.
Estok brought this to the attention of the other pastors who are part of the North Royalton Ministers Association, a group of local pastors who meet once a month to share opportunities and encourage one another. The community meal was proposed, and the rest is history.
It has a way of feeding more than just hungry bodies. It has also unified the community but also the churches, bringing together St. Albert, Royal Redeemer Lutheran Church, St. Paul Greek Orthodox Church, Abundant Life Community Church, North Royalton United Methodist Church and St. Matthew the Evangelist Antiochian Orthodox Church.
“The North Royalton Ministers Association was looking for ways to bring our congregations together. These meals with the (Cleveland) Food Bank food, at a greatly reduced cost, presented a perfect opportunity. Each of the congregations tries to take responsibility for two of the 12 dinners a year. They take the lead with the volunteers and they supply the $350 of costs associated with each meal,” Estok explained.
St. Albert plays host nine months of the year and Royal Redeemer twice.
The next North Royalton Community Meal will be served from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, April 30 at Royal Redeemer, located at 11680 Royalton Road.
On the menu will be ham, sweet potatoes, green beans, tossed salad, bread and butter and dessert. All are welcome.
The blessing this program is has not been lost on community members.
“It’s a unique situation where all the churches not only get along but they work together to fellowship and provide programming,” Mayor Bob Stefanik, who sometimes attends these meals, said. “It’s unique that they work together for the common goal of serving the community, regardless of their denomination.”
The original intent of that first meal in April 2014, sponsored by eight area churches at the time, was to feed the hungry but quickly morphed into a way to feed community spirit too, giving all an excuse to sit down, relax and enjoy a bite to eat with neighbors, strangers, family and friends.
Three years in and the program is flourishing.
“I believe it has gone remarkably well. It began growing every month until we reached the 200 guests mark,” said St. Albert the Great’s Rev. Edward Estok. “I believe it is successful in that good-hearted people attract good-hearted people by engaging in compassionate and community-building efforts. Many people are alone and needy. The compassionate ministry of the body of Christ, the Christian churches, it is appreciated by people who are in need.”
Pastor Dave Timm, head of Royal Redeemer’s care ministry, said this creates a connection with many of the people that regularly come to the church for the food pantry. The church also welcomes in new people who come to the meal and find out what else the church offers to help them through some tough times.
“I believe that God smiles down on this program for two reasons: it provides food and fellowship for those in need, a place that they can come as they are and feel like they belong, and, two, God would want all of the churches in a community to work together to glorify Him and to take care of his children,” Timm said.
The community meal came about after the Cleveland Food Bank mentioned to St. Albert a need existed not only in Cleveland, but right in the church’s backyard. It estimated about 5 percent of the North Royalton population qualifies for its services.
Estok brought this to the attention of the other pastors who are part of the North Royalton Ministers Association, a group of local pastors who meet once a month to share opportunities and encourage one another. The community meal was proposed, and the rest is history.
It has a way of feeding more than just hungry bodies. It has also unified the community but also the churches, bringing together St. Albert, Royal Redeemer Lutheran Church, St. Paul Greek Orthodox Church, Abundant Life Community Church, North Royalton United Methodist Church and St. Matthew the Evangelist Antiochian Orthodox Church.
“The North Royalton Ministers Association was looking for ways to bring our congregations together. These meals with the (Cleveland) Food Bank food, at a greatly reduced cost, presented a perfect opportunity. Each of the congregations tries to take responsibility for two of the 12 dinners a year. They take the lead with the volunteers and they supply the $350 of costs associated with each meal,” Estok explained.
St. Albert plays host nine months of the year and Royal Redeemer twice.
The next North Royalton Community Meal will be served from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, April 30 at Royal Redeemer, located at 11680 Royalton Road.
On the menu will be ham, sweet potatoes, green beans, tossed salad, bread and butter and dessert. All are welcome.
The blessing this program is has not been lost on community members.
“It’s a unique situation where all the churches not only get along but they work together to fellowship and provide programming,” Mayor Bob Stefanik, who sometimes attends these meals, said. “It’s unique that they work together for the common goal of serving the community, regardless of their denomination.”