Teen center and church revive weekly community dinners – absent

from Westbrook since the Salvation Army departed.

WESTBROOK – Losing the community meals at the old Westbrook Salvation Army on Bridge Street did not sit well with the folks at Trinity Lutheran Church.

Thanks to some church volunteers, the Mission Possible Teen Center and Wayside Food Programs of Portland, a free meal for those who need one is coming back to Westbrook. They are combining resources to serve community meals at the teen center on Wednesdays starting in January.

The idea started at the church, where for years volunteers had assisted at the Westbrook Salvation Army. Jane Sinclair, a social ministry committee member at the church, said weekly Salvation Army meals served between 40 and 100 guests.

“It gave us great joy to be able to do that,” she said, because “there was a great need here in Westbrook.”

After the Salvation Army closed its doors in April, Sinclair said, she wanted to continue the free meals. She turned to her fellow parishioners, including Ted Deschambeault, who said he has volunteered with Wayside for more than 20 years. He had interest in providing meals to the needy, as he had volunteered at the Salvation Army, as well.

“Right now, there’s absolutely nothing going on in Westbrook as far as I know of for meals,” he said. “People relied on it.”

Deschambeault knew Wayside had experience in these matters and recommended bringing a meal to Westbrook to Susan Violet, the executive director. She thought it was a great idea, she said.

“It’s a community meal to provide nurture and also to nurture people who are hungry for more socialization,” she said.

Some who take part in meals like this are isolated and alone. According to organizers, the social interactions are as important as the food the guests receive.

The Mission Possible Teen Center has agreed to host the free meals. The center’s teens already prepare meals nightly and will be part of this volunteer effort, said Evelyn Blanchard, the executive director.

“It’s an opportunity to share a meal together, socialize and share resources and connections,” she said.

The center is well equipped to host the meals, though a final inventory check will reveal whether there are enough plates, utensils and seating. Blanchard said they received a grant from the Good Shepherd Food Bank last year that allowed them to refurbish their kitchen.

Organizers hope to have representatives from social service agencies at the meals so that those who attend can learn more about heating assistance and other aid programs. The guests may also share tips among themselves, Blanchard said.

“I think that’s a huge part of it. Sometimes the best resources are the people who’ve been through it successfully,” she said.

Blanchard said the meals are part of what defines Westbrook – community members caring for one another. This will be a good opportunity for the teens to learn that message, she added.

“For many of the kids, this is their home away from home,” she said. “Overall, the teens who attend here are proud of the space and this is an opportunity to give back.”

Mission Possible is a voluntary drop-in center for teenagers. Blanchard said they serve around 500 teens annually.

The teens will join church volunteers in preparing, cooking and serving the food, she said.

Violet said she hopes the meals reach seniors, families, culturally diverse groups and the disabled. There are many types of people struggling to obtain food, she said.

“It’s not to increase dependency, but to help people get through their situations,” she said. “A lot of people can’t afford to put 21 meals on the table each week.”

The meal will give the diverse participants a chance to interact with each other, the teens and church volunteers, which will break down barriers and help clear up misunderstandings across cultures and generations, she said.

According to Violet, the community meal is proven to work better than a soup kitchen, which Wayside ran for 24 years. A soup kitchen used to attract 75 percent men, but Wayside’s community meals have attracted more women and seniors, she said.

“We knew that there were many populations we weren’t serving,” she said. “We’re really looking forward to it. It’s a very exciting model.”

Steam rises from a big pot of spaghetti, part of Tuesday’s dinner at Mission Possible in Westbrook. Mission Possible board member Lori Carter, left, wields the big stirring spoon while Taylor Scott and Leneyn Sines monitor the progress. Teens at the center will help serve community meals on Wednesdays starting in January.Photo by Rich Obrey

Teen center and church revive weekly community dinners – absent

from Westbrook since the Salvation Army departed.

WESTBROOK – Losing the community meals at the old Westbrook Salvation Army on Bridge Street did not sit well with the folks at Trinity Lutheran Church.

Thanks to some church volunteers, the Mission Possible Teen Center and Wayside Food Programs of Portland, a free meal for those who need one is coming back to Westbrook. They are combining resources to serve community meals at the teen center on Wednesdays starting in January.

The idea started at the church, where for years volunteers had assisted at the Westbrook Salvation Army. Jane Sinclair, a social ministry committee member at the church, said weekly Salvation Army meals served between 40 and 100 guests.

“It gave us great joy to be able to do that,” she said, because “there was a great need here in Westbrook.”

After the Salvation Army closed its doors in April, Sinclair said, she wanted to continue the free meals. She turned to her fellow parishioners, including Ted Deschambeault, who said he has volunteered with Wayside for more than 20 years. He had interest in providing meals to the needy, as he had volunteered at the Salvation Army, as well.

“Right now, there’s absolutely nothing going on in Westbrook as far as I know of for meals,” he said. “People relied on it.”

Deschambeault knew Wayside had experience in these matters and recommended bringing a meal to Westbrook to Susan Violet, the executive director. She thought it was a great idea, she said.

“It’s a community meal to provide nurture and also to nurture people who are hungry for more socialization,” she said.

Some who take part in meals like this are isolated and alone. According to organizers, the social interactions are as important as the food the guests receive.

The Mission Possible Teen Center has agreed to host the free meals. The center’s teens already prepare meals nightly and will be part of this volunteer effort, said Evelyn Blanchard, the executive director.

“It’s an opportunity to share a meal together, socialize and share resources and connections,” she said.

The center is well equipped to host the meals, though a final inventory check will reveal whether there are enough plates, utensils and seating. Blanchard said they received a grant from the Good Shepherd Food Bank last year that allowed them to refurbish their kitchen.

Organizers hope to have representatives from social service agencies at the meals so that those who attend can learn more about heating assistance and other aid programs. The guests may also share tips among themselves, Blanchard said.

“I think that’s a huge part of it. Sometimes the best resources are the people who’ve been through it successfully,” she said.

Blanchard said the meals are part of what defines Westbrook – community members caring for one another. This will be a good opportunity for the teens to learn that message, she added.

“For many of the kids, this is their home away from home,” she said. “Overall, the teens who attend here are proud of the space and this is an opportunity to give back.”

Mission Possible is a voluntary drop-in center for teenagers. Blanchard said they serve around 500 teens annually.

The teens will join church volunteers in preparing, cooking and serving the food, she said.

Violet said she hopes the meals reach seniors, families, culturally diverse groups and the disabled. There are many types of people struggling to obtain food, she said.

“It’s not to increase dependency, but to help people get through their situations,” she said. “A lot of people can’t afford to put 21 meals on the table each week.”

The meal will give the diverse participants a chance to interact with each other, the teens and church volunteers, which will break down barriers and help clear up misunderstandings across cultures and generations, she said.

According to Violet, the community meal is proven to work better than a soup kitchen, which Wayside ran for 24 years. A soup kitchen used to attract 75 percent men, but Wayside’s community meals have attracted more women and seniors, she said.

“We knew that there were many populations we weren’t serving,” she said. “We’re really looking forward to it. It’s a very exciting model.”

Steam rises from a big pot of spaghetti, part of Tuesday’s dinner at Mission Possible in Westbrook. Mission Possible board member Lori Carter, left, wields the big stirring spoon while Taylor Scott and Leneyn Sines monitor the progress. Teens at the center will help serve community meals on Wednesdays starting in January.Photo by Rich Obrey