The Community Meal originally began in 1965 at the urging of Judy Bess, Bobbi Beta and Thelma Roby at the Catholic Worker House. The original goal of the ministry was to feed the street people and the hobos that found their way to Davenport and the rest of the Quad Cities. Judy’s initial vision was that local churches would all provide a meal once a month. In the beginning, not enough churches signed on to the ministry through the Council of Churches, but enough churches signed on that meals were able to be provided five days a week.
Over time, the ministry came to be known in the communities as a place to take food donations. Grocery stores would donate old bread that they would not sell. Restaurants would bring leftovers. And the churches tried to feed all that came. Over time, and despite occasional interference from the local city government, the ministry outgrew its location at the Catholic Worker House.
As God would have it, the Salvation Army had purchased an old mortuary that had gone out of business and had no real use for it. For the better part of the next decade or so, the Community Meal served food to all in need at that former mortuary.
Eventually, the Salvation Army sold that building, but it asked the ministry to move to the shelter for women and children, which is still the current location for the meal. Additionally, Churches United got involved in the ministry. Today, some 110 local churches support three meal sites in the Quad Cities! Churches participate as they are able, but the hungry are fed seven nights a week, 365 days a year.
As part of its Christian witness, St. Alban’s has undertaken to provide feasts each month that it serves. Honoring its founding, the ministry is entirely lay led and lay organized. St. Alban’s has served Turkey and Ham dinners during the holidays, lamb at Easter time, comfort themed meals (meatloaf, meatballs, chicken pot pie), Italian themed meals, and various other types of meals. Our prayerful hope is that the hungry and forgotten of society will be reminded of the feast to which their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ calls them. Always we are feeding, sometimes we are sowing seeds, sometimes we are watering or fertilizing, and occasionally we reap; but always we are about sharing the love of God in Christ to all who come to share in His bounty.
If you would like to participate in this ministry, through donations, through preparation, through serving, or even through prayer, please contact the church office and someone can put you in touch with the month’s coordinator.
Over time, the ministry came to be known in the communities as a place to take food donations. Grocery stores would donate old bread that they would not sell. Restaurants would bring leftovers. And the churches tried to feed all that came. Over time, and despite occasional interference from the local city government, the ministry outgrew its location at the Catholic Worker House.
As God would have it, the Salvation Army had purchased an old mortuary that had gone out of business and had no real use for it. For the better part of the next decade or so, the Community Meal served food to all in need at that former mortuary.
Eventually, the Salvation Army sold that building, but it asked the ministry to move to the shelter for women and children, which is still the current location for the meal. Additionally, Churches United got involved in the ministry. Today, some 110 local churches support three meal sites in the Quad Cities! Churches participate as they are able, but the hungry are fed seven nights a week, 365 days a year.
As part of its Christian witness, St. Alban’s has undertaken to provide feasts each month that it serves. Honoring its founding, the ministry is entirely lay led and lay organized. St. Alban’s has served Turkey and Ham dinners during the holidays, lamb at Easter time, comfort themed meals (meatloaf, meatballs, chicken pot pie), Italian themed meals, and various other types of meals. Our prayerful hope is that the hungry and forgotten of society will be reminded of the feast to which their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ calls them. Always we are feeding, sometimes we are sowing seeds, sometimes we are watering or fertilizing, and occasionally we reap; but always we are about sharing the love of God in Christ to all who come to share in His bounty.
If you would like to participate in this ministry, through donations, through preparation, through serving, or even through prayer, please contact the church office and someone can put you in touch with the month’s coordinator.
