Massachusetts church serves 65,000 free meals while building community
By Sangita Chandra
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ACTON, Massachusetts (WCVB) — Every Wednesday, Mount Calvary Lutheran Church Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church | Home opens its doors for a free community supper designed to feed both hunger and human connection. The Acton church has served more than 65,000 meals since the program began in 2012. About 80 guests dine inside each week, while another 30 meals are packaged to go.
“Nobody leaves here hungry,” longtime volunteer and head cook Rose Saia said.
A rotating group of 20 to 30 volunteers prepares, serves, and cleans up each week. Donated food and money sustain the program, with local farms often contributing fresh produce.
Supper organizer Jack Brophy said the supper is not a traditional soup kitchen. Anyone is welcome to sit down for a full meal without worrying about the cost. The gathering has become especially meaningful for retirees such as Arlene Howard.
“When you retire, you miss those people,” she said. “When you come here, you meet all new people.”
The commitment spans generations. Anish Misro, a junior at Acton-Boxborough Regional High School, has volunteered since sixth grade.
“I’ve gained a more intimate sense of what community building looks like,” Misro said.
Some guests have attended for years. William Cuttell said he has come every week for the past decade.
For William Po, who attended with his mother, the supper offers an alternative to the isolation that can accompany technology.
“It’s great to still know that there are people that want to be part of a community,” Po said. “It is like a family.”
For information about food assistance programs across Massachusetts, visit Mass.gov’s food assistance resource page.
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