Weekly dinners foster community spirit in Mission
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ST. IGNATIUS — Free community dinners are no strangers to the Mission Valley during the holiday season, but one group in St. Ignatius has continued to serve free, hot meals every Monday evening since November. And they plan to keep going as long as they have funds and volunteers.
It all started when some local church groups put their heads together to think of a way to become more involved and better serve their community, Cornerstone Faith Center pastor Lynn Lapka said.
“We thought a good way to do that was just share a meal,” Lapka said. “My heart’s desire is to see it not just as a help or a free meal, but a place people can tie in to the community.”
Head cook Pearl Barry agreed.
“I’m here under direction of God to feed the community, and I’m loving it,” Barry said. “This isn’t a religion … but when each one of them steps up to the counter, it’s like we’re serving the Lord.”
Their philosophy seems to be working — each week the group serves between 150 and 200 hot meals, including takeout meals, which are always available for people that can’t get out of the house or would just rather spend time at home with their families.
“We just try to give as much as we possibly can,” Lapka said.