Newspaper Articles

By Karen Madden

Daily Tribune Staff

December 25, 2003  

A group of Wisconsin Rapids-area residents want to make sure the Christmas spirit lasts the entire year. Beginning New Year's Eve, The Neighborhood Table will serve two free meals to the community each month. After the kick-off Wednesday, the meals will be served on the last two Thursdays of each month.

For Ginny Steen, organizer of the community meal program, the first dinner is the realization of a dream that started about three years ago. Steen said she wanted to organize a com­munity meal to feed people with economic needs but couldn't find support for the idea at the time. Then, Steen's granddaughter volunteered for a community meal program in Neenah. When she returned home, Steen's granddaughter contacted her and persuaded her to try again. "I wrote letters to four neighborhood churches in the middle of September," Steen said. St. John's Episcopal Church, First Congregational Church and First English Lutheran Church, all in Wisconsin Rapids, responded to Steen's request for help.

Steen has received an overwhelming response from the community this time. The Heart of Wisconsin Leadership Program, the Community Foundation of South Wood County and Down on the Farm are among the groups that have stepped forward to offer help. High school students in the area have contacted the group, asking to volunteer at the dinner. The Neighborhood Table is a great way for people to give something back to the community, said Cindy Goldensern, volunteer coordinator for the program. The group picked the last two Thursdays of the month because it is the time when the need is the greatest, Steen said. "We figure that will be good for people on public assistance," she said. "Toward the end of the month the money starts wearing thin. This will be a way to help them stretch it."

If the program goes well, it could be expanded to additional days each month, Steen said. Neighborhood Table organizers are looking for area groups to volunteer to be in charge of each of the meals. Volunteers will receive assistance on food ideas and how to organize the meal. The group has chosen St. John's Episcopal Church as the location for the meals. People who are uncomfortable with the idea of eating at the meal site or are unable to eat there can get carry-outs, said Monica Hass, a volunteer.

"We do ask that they call ahead for the carry-outs," Hass said. "We'll provide the Styro-foam containers. If someone's on their way home from work, we can have it ready for them when they come. "Although the program is intended to help people in need, there are no qualifications for the meal. We're not going to be asking for W-2s at the door," Steen said. Steen also encourages those who live alone or have a difficult time cooking meals to eat with The Neighborhood Table. People can use the program for socializing and finding help for other needs, she said.

The Dec. 31 meal will be spaghetti with meat sauce, garlic bread, tossed salad and pumpkin bars, Hass said. The group is planning for about 75 people but has contingencies in case more show up. "If we need to, we've arranged for pizzas," Hass said. Steen hopes to have a full house for the first meal next week. "We thought it would be the perfect way to start the new year," Steen said. "We didn't want people to think they couldn't go out and celebrate New Year's Eve because they didn't have money for food."

The Neighborhood Table is modeled after a similar program known as the Bread Basket in Waupaca. The Bread Basket is a weekly community meal and brown bag lunch held on Saturday for people faced with economic needs. Nearly 250 people are served each week in Waupaca. "I figured if little Waupaca could do it, so could we," Steen said.

You can reach reporter Karen Madden at 422-6729 or kmadden@wisconsinrapidstribune.com