Share this Story : The Sarnia Observer Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr

Eric Bunnell's People: Serving up community at Porter Hall

Volunteers continue their community outreach dinners from St. Thomas Anglican's parish hall

They’re cooking up a lot of community good in the kitchen of Porter Hall.

Although worship services currently are suspended at St. Thomas Anglican on Flora Street, the church’s parish hall remains a very happening place, hosting several community organizations as well as a long-running ministry of community suppers.

Eric Bunnell's People: Serving up community at Porter Hall Back to video

That outreach began in 1997 at the now-closed Trinity Anglican Church where, former Trinity parishioner Cathy Grondin recalls, “The challenge given to us by the priest of the day was we need to do something for other people, not just for our congregation.

“So we came up with doing the community outreach dinners.”

Now a deputy trustee at St. Thomas Anglican and a licensed lay reader, Cathy is co-chair of the dinner outreach with head cook Grace Penn from St. Anne’s Roman Catholic Church.

With the merger of congregations from Trinity and St. John’s Anglican Church to form St. Thomas Anglican at what had been St. John’s on Flora, the outreach relocated to Porter Hall.

And with growth, it’s no longer now just the work of one congregation.

“We have members on our committee from Holy Angels, St. Hilda’s-St. Luke’s, Knox, St. Anne’s, St. Andrews United, St. Thomas Anglican Church, people in the community who are not necessarily attached to a church that believe in our mission, our ministry.”

Today, the program cooks up a free monthly dinner and social evening at Porter Hall on the third Friday of each month, feeding all comers. No reservation is required. June’s dinner is set for Friday this week, with doors and a snack at 4:30 p.m. and food at 5 p.m.

Last month, the suppers served 184 sit-down meals and 50 take-away.

Each week, the program also cooks meals for distribution on Saturdays at 5:30 p.m. at nearby Destination Church on Talbot Street at Ross. Again, the meals are free to all who show up.

“We are part of the Elgin-St. Thomas Food Providers Network, so there’s several of us: the Salvation Army does Monday nights, Harvest Hands does Tuesday and Thursday nights, Holy Angels is Fridays, we do Saturdays, and Holy Angels does Sundays.

“Last Friday, we served 60 people — and four dogs.”

Cathy laughs, “We also bring dog treats.”

Served all-you-can-eat buffet style, a typical monthly supper is a real belly-filler.

“Last month, we served beef brisket, mashed potatoes, two vegetables, a salad, rolls, and cake and pies for dessert.”

The suppers are able to continue because of a supportive and generous community.

“The beef brisket........

© Sarnia Observer