MUNCIE, Ind. — For the past ten years, the members of the Avondale/Thomas Park neighborhood have been coming together to eat and cook meals for each other.
“We started them about 10 years ago over a summer when we had some availability and there was a pastor here that was wanting to make some connections with people who lived nearby,” Neil Kring, an Avondale community member and volunteer, said. “And we pulled a grill into the front yard and started cooking hamburgers and hotdogs and chicken and whatever and people just started coming and we started getting to know people who lived in 3-4 block radius.”
At first, the goal of the gathering was to provide community members with food and to meet new people. After talking with community members and meeting with each other, the community realized that this could be bigger than just one meal.
“We have really tried over the years to listen to people to see what are the things that they feel like they need. So, what are the things that people are feeling as needs, is there something that we can offer to the people and make it available if they want that, ” Kring said.
Case workers, local nurses and even other non profits have pitched in to offer services during the Thursday night dinners. Community members are able to get free produce, hygiene products and other resources on top of a warm meal. Community members can also volunteer to be involved in the dinners.
”We have such fun. It's like family here, you know but we have a lot of fun. And that's what makes it really nice.” community member and volunteer, Jeff Watters said.
Around warm food, members share laughs and various stories. Some of these members have been coming for a long time. One member mentioned how she had a baby not that long ago, causing a flash of excitement in members and volunteers alike.
“All I can think about is that it's just love, you know. Because we all love each other. It's incredible, it really is. It moves me every time I come here,” Watters said.
Thursday night dinners are held at Avondale Methodist United Church from 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. every week, with options for to-go boxes.
Contact Abby Urban with comments at abigail.urban@bsu.edu.
