FEATURE STORY: Building community--at the dinner table

Decorah Methodist Church volunteers Kathi Mitchell and Ken Van de Berg

A community program that started quietly continues to grow and to expand.

Members of the Unitarian Universalist congregation in Decorah got the idea for a community meal in Decorah, but they quickly realized that if they were going to do the meal, they would need help from other Decorah congregations.  So after they consulted with the Decorah Area Faith Coalition, the community meal organizers were able to go into operation in February of 2012, with volunteers serving a meal once a month at Frist Lutheran Church.
 
Each third Thursday of the month the Decorah Community Meal volunteers offered a free, quality meal and social time in the fellowship hall of First Lutheran Church.  Along the way, numerous individuals, community groups, organizations and businesses have stepped in to keep DCM running, providing food, volunteers, financial support, storage space, transportation, time and encouragement.
 
Restaurant owner Jim McCaffrey and his team at Mc Caffrey's Dolce Vita have been donating the main entree every month, often including breads and vegetables. Each month a "sponsor" group rounds out the meal with salads and desserts, and also supplies two teams of volunteers to set up, to replenish serving tables, and to clean up.

The DCM organizing committee recently grew with the addition of Decorah Methodist Church volunteers, who proposed adding a second community meal.  That's when DCM  committee member Otter Dreaming met with representatives from one of the previous monthly sponsor groups--the Norse Culinary Team at Sodexo and Luther College.  Sodexo-Luther College Purchasing Manager Curtis Raddatz and Luther Dining Services General Manager Wayne Tudor made an offer similar to McCaffrey's: to donate the main entree and bread for a second community meal each month, while the DCM organizing committee arranges for volunteers to provide salads, desserts and servers.
 
Last Thursday night was the first time for the second community meal in one month and, despite a snowstorm at the time, over 200 people attended.  "It's great to see hoiw the community has responded," said Dreaming.

There is a real mix of people from different groups attending the community meals.  "That has been the best part of it," says Dreaming, who says "people are now calling us to volunteer (their help)."

But more volunteers are always welcome.  Please e-mail decorahcommunitymeal@gmasil.com.  Or visit the Decorah Community Meal--it's held twice monthly on the first and third Thursdays from 5:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall of First Lutheran Church, 604 West Broadway, Decorah.

Says the DCM organizing committee, "Thanks to everyone who makes possible these evenings of conversation and breaking bread together."

For some scenes from the latest Decorah Community Meal, visit www.decorahtvnews.com