Newspaper Articles

Church spices up Neighborhood meal

Event offers catered Chinese cuisine  

By Colin Atagi  

October 29, 2004

Daily Tribune Staff  

          Guests at Thursday's Wisconsin Rapids' community dinner were treated to a catered meal — something organizers hope to provide again some time.

Volunteers from local groups and organizations usually prepare the meals for the Neighborhood Table, but this week, St. Vincent de Paul Church sponsored a dinner from China Palace in Wisconsin Rapids. By 5 p.m., about 80 local residents were enjoying & dinner of beef broccoli, stir fry or sesame chicken that was prepared a couple miles away and delivered to St. John's Episcopal Church,320 Oak St. "They're cooking it fresh, as we need it," said Neighborhood Table Founder Ginny Steen. "We just want other restaurants out there to know that they're also able to help us. "Even without the restaurants' participation, the meals at Neighborhood Table — which provides meals to members of low-income families on the last two Thursdays of each month — are always good, Steen said.

            Theresa Chao, a St. Vincent de Paul parishioner, is friends with the owners of China Palace. She suggested to them that they participate in the Neighborhood Table dinner. "I didn't know how people would like it, so I talked to the (China Palace owner) and he suggested the more popular dishes," Chao said.

            People in attendance declined to give their names, but several of them said they were satisfied with their meals and would return again. One person was hoping to have Chinese food for dinner and was delighted to find it available, Chao said. "(People in attendance) have been happy about it, and it's delicious," said Susan Ghastin, a volunteer and Neighborhood Table board of directors' member. Dinner also included dessert prepared by people from St. Vincent de Paul. Those were well received.

            More than 400 people were expected to be served Thursday, said Volunteer Coordinator Cindy Goldenstern. Last week, there were 265 carryout orders and more than 145 dine-ins. The first Neighborhood Table was held Dec. 31, 2003. It has gone from serving fewer than 100 people per week to providing dinner for more than four times that many. "We've got a lot of regulars that come here," Goldenstern said. "It's gotten to the point a lot of them have become very open with us. Before they never wanted to talk to us about how bad their situations were, but now they can tell us anything."

            The regular customers return for the meals, which are held the last two Thursdays of each month, and there are always new residents in attendance. "There's a real sense of community in here," Ghastin said.

            The next Neighborhood Table is scheduled for November 18 and will be sponsored by Grove Elementary School. There will not be a dinner on November 25. A Thanksgiving dinner will be held instead at St. Luke's Lutheran Church.

If you go

The next Neighborhood Table is scheduled for Nov. 18 at the First Congregational Church at 311 Second St. S. The meal is sponsored by Grove Elementary School and will consist of hot dogs and chili.

You can reach Colin Atagi at 422-6728 or at catagi@wisconsinrapidstribune.com

The Neighborhood Table services the communities of Wisconsin Rapids, Nekoosa, Port Edwards, Wisconsin and surrounding areas