Fall 2024 Letter from Monday Community Lunch Chair, Janet Poeton

2024-25 is the 10th year that UCM has sponsored/hosted/taken the lead on providing lunch on Mondays – along with four other churches in Montpelier who provide lunches Tuesdays-Fridays. Prior to that, for 30-35 years, a lunch was made by Washington County Mental Health and the Green Mountain Workforce — the kitchen and dining room were provided rent-free for this project, and people were trained for a variety of skills before graduating to a job within town.

People come for the community feeling at the lunch, as much as for the food. It’s a place where they feel cared and provided for within the Montpelier community. Now more than ever there are many who come for the meal because food availability is extremely limited in Central Vermont.

Are you looking for a new way to engage with UCM and with the larger community of Montpelier? Come join the Monday Lunch Team. There are opportunities to help prepare, serve, and deliver meals. If you’ve never had the experience of washing dishes for 70, here’s your chance! We need dishwashers!

A meal is prepared each Monday, using food from the Montpelier Food Pantry, from Community Harvest of Central Vermont (local gleaners), from home-bakers, and from local stores. This all happens at Christ Episcopal Church, 64 State Street, on Mondays between 9 AM – 1:30 PM (lunch is served from 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM). Sign-up here – click this link – to see how you can “serve human need,” by volunteering with us.

Providing financial support is just as important as volunteering. You could sponsor a meal for just $2.30, OR one whole Monday Lunch for under $250 . . . or donate as you are able – all gifts are greatly appreciated. Please send a check to UCM, 130 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05602 with “Community Lunch” in the memo. Many folks in Central Vermont will be grateful for your support! ~ Janet & the Monday Lunch Team