Friends, fellowship served at Shepherd’s Table
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RONAN – Hot food and fellowship are always on the menu Tuesday nights at the Mission Valley Senior Citizens center. Since it’s beginning last fall, Shepherd’s Table has been providing the Ronan community with an opportunity to fill their bellies, catch up with old friends, and make new ones.
“It’s wonderful how so many people look forward to this every week,” co-founder Beverly Luedtke said.
The dinner is held every Tuesday night from 5-7 p,m. For most who attend, it is more about fellowship than food.
“Most come at 5 p.m. and are still sitting around chatting at a quarter to 7 p.m.,” Luedtke said. “It’s more about the social togetherness.”
“You always see someone you know, so it’s a good time,” Joe Forte said with a smile. Forte came with his wife Marilyn, since they were too tired to cook at home, and wanted to get out and visit with friends.
Church members stock the dinner with home-cooked dishes, along with a wide variety of cakes and cookies.
Generally 70-75 people attend each week, but Luedtke expects more of the community to join once the dinner becomes more known.
According to Luedtke, most people who come to the dinner once generally return each week to visit. Eight churches volunteer their time to provide the meal, with churches rotating weekly.
“We are all about serving our community,” Sacred Heart Catholic Church volunteer Renae Cornelius said. “Anyone who wants a meal can come.”
The meal is free, with donations accepted, but not required.
Ninth and tenth graders from Northside Christian School in St. Petersburg, Fla. were present this week, offering their services. The group has been spending the week in different communities around the Mission Valley, helping out during their mission trip with whatever needs to be done.
The students sported sweatshirts with “Mission in the Mountains” on the front. Their teacher, Sharon Smith, grew up in St. Ignatius, and decided to bring her students back to her home town to give back to a community that once gave so much to her.
“I love being back, I truly missed the area,” Smith said.
According to Smith, the school closes down for a week each spring to participate in either a mission trip or local community service.
The group plans to volunteer in Ronan, St. Ignatius and Polson throughout the next few days, followed by a ski trip in Whitefish.
“I enjoy meeting new people and seeing other communities,” student Madi Clark said.
“I never get a chance to do things like this,” student Rachel Boyette commented, “Most kids my age are too scared to go talk to people they don’t know, but I really think it’s fun.”
The students served the March 15 Shepherd’s Table attendees drinks and dessert. Then they sat down and visited with community members for awhile.
Luedtke encourages any and everyone to join the group for a good home-cooked meal Tuesday evenings.
“Food tastes so much better with friends,” she said.
