Sturdy Savings Bank Employees help out by serving a hot lunch in 2009
The holidays may be over, but every Thursday, the spirit of giving is still going strong at the United Way of Cape May County’s hot lunch program. With winter winds blowing outside, some county residents can barely afford the cost of housing and heating, and other necessities like food can be difficult to come by, but they know that they can count on at least one hot nutritious meal every Thursday at the First Baptist Church’s Community room on Maple Avenue in Wildwood.
“It’s more than just the meal,” Executive Director Suzanne Nardi said. “Our guests, who come to the weekly lunch, say over and over again how grateful they are that there are people in the community who care about them.”
A variety of religious, civic and business groups, as well as individuals, volunteer to help with the program each week. They plan a meal that includes salad and dessert, purchase the groceries and arrive together on the morning of the luncheon to prepare and serve it. And whether it is a church group, a civic group or a local business, those preparing and serving the meal inevitably come away from the luncheon with a strengthened sense of community.
“Volunteers tell me often how nice it is to work on a project with their friends and colleagues that brings such immediate comfort to others,” Nardi said.
In addition, the lunch program puts people in touch with agencies that provide the help they need to make their lives better.
“The program offers human service organizations a chance to share information about the services they provide,” Nardi said. “We are always looking for speakers, who are looking for a way to reach the people who need them most.”
Volunteers are needed throughout the winter months. To find out more about how you, your friends and coworkers can help or to schedule a time to present information to United Way clients, call Nardi at 729-2002.
