Tuesday lunches at St. Paul's - food for body and soul

Mar 24, 2011

Photo:  (l-r) Hilda Hodgson. Liz Bruce, Don Wolsey, Erma Bracken, Elaine Lazier, Ardith Wolsey and Jeanette Pixley

They are a fundraising tradition that has been going on at St. Paul's United Church in Harrowsmith for more than 25 years and for Erma Bracken, who heads them up, they are more about feeding the body and soul than filling up the church coffers. “Yes, the $5 cost does help to pay our regular expenses here at the church but it’s more about reaching out to the community and giving those who attend a place to come to enjoy a meal, socialize and share with others in the community.”

The meals are reliably fresh and tasty and include a beverage, homemade soup and sandwich, and a fancy array of home-baked deserts. This Tuesday diners had a choice of French Canadian pea or turkey vegetable soup and ham or egg salad sandwiches. The desserts included banana bread, brownies and butter pecan tarts.

Erma Bracken of Harrowsmith has been running the lunches for 15 years and is joined behind the scenes by a devoted team of volunteers. On average, 40 lunches are served and that number will often swell to 65 since Erma is open to accommodating large groups as long as she is given advance notice.

The lunches are open to anyone and everyone. Anyone interested in volunteering, or any larger groups interested in attending, can contact Erma Bracken at 613-372-2343.