‘Holy Hot Dish’ T
Serving meals makes sister congregations grow By Julie B. Sevig
wo congregations in Philadelphia didn’t lose the “holy” when they went from serving hot dogs to a hot dish. That’s right—what was once a “Holy Hot
Dogs” meal served Saturdays to the community has become something more substantial: “Holy Hot Dish.” The way Ellen Daneke and Andrena Ingram tell it, St. Peter Evangelical (Lafayette Hill) and St. Michael (Mount Airy) are “sister congregations” in mission work that’s not only holy, but healthy and helpful. Two years ago members of the churches became aware
that 1 in 4 Philadelphians were one meal away from not having enough to eat, said Ingram, St. Michael’s pastor. So during Lent a simple meal was offered to members on Thursday evenings, encouraging them to donate to a pantry what they would have spent that night on dinner. “When Lent was over, we wondered, ‘What else can we do? People are still hungry,’ ” Ingram said. In June 2010, without any funding but with the dona- tion of buns from Amoroso’s Baking Co. in Philadelphia, they began offering a hot dog meal every Saturday noon at St. Michael. Word spread, as did their desire to offer a healthier meal. Members of both congregations began making casseroles and side dishes. At that point they were launched into a “service life,” said Daneke, a social min- istry leader at St. Peter, four miles away.
From there, they began looking outside the congrega- tion for funding. When they approached Whole Foods, they were given groceries each Wednesday, taking the
Sue Kammerle and Eudora Wiggins (right) work to prepare Holy Hot Dish, a community meal served at St. Michael Lutheran Church in Philadelphia. In the back- ground are Iris Hernandez and Karen Rauscher.
donation to St. Peter for Thursday eve- ning food preparation. Food they don’t use goes to area shelters. Ten people came when the first hot dogs and chips were served. Today it’s no longer necessary for members to stand outside and hand out fliers about the meal—85 to 90 people come each Saturday between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., some of them arriving early to help. Musically inclined guests have started to play the piano or bring guitars. Some attendees who regularly sit at the same table have formed a men’s group.
“We found people are hungry,” Ingram said. “But
they’re also hungry for fellowship.” At least one member sits at each table to visit with the guests. “We’re able to celebrate things that are happening in their lives, good and positive, and be there with them when they’re going through troubles,” Daneke said. “We never saw that it would evolve as it has,” Ingram added. “It’s a blessing to the community. But to sit there and eat together ... it’s been a blessing for everyone involved.”
Nearly a year and a half later, 3,500 meals have been
served. The effort calls for 20 to 30 volunteers each week: four to gather, pack and transfer the donated food; four to six to prepare it Thursday afternoons (washing, cut- ting up); six to eight to cook; and eight to 10 on Saturday to serve (they gather at 10:45 in the kitchen for prayer to bless their food and service). Holy Hot Dish has also become a magnet for youth groups wanting to do service projects, and it has been given some grants. What began as a desire to feed the hungry continues to grow and become more holistic. The churches offer HIV testing and this month will provide flu shots. Prayer shawls and other clothing are available, especially hats, scarves, mittens and gloves for winter. “Perhaps the biggest blessing is the partnership
between churches,” Ingram said. Noting that “partners in mission” didn’t really become a reality until they started working on this project together, she said, “We can truly say we’re partners in mission now. It’s a beautiful thing.” Added Daneke, “Churches need to realize they don’t need to do something like this alone. A partnership makes it so much more valuable. It helps the congregations grow together.”
Sevig is an associate editor of The Lutheran. For more information contact
esdaneke@aol.com or
pastor_ingram@verizon.net. November 2011 33
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