Mission
The mission of Free Community Meal is to bring together nonprofit charities, government agencies, houses of faith, and individual volunteers to provide hospitality, share resources, and relay information about services for people who are in crisis, transition, or poverty, often while sharing a meal and always while sharing conversation.
History
Free Community Meal began in 2011 as a response to a challenge from the national office of United Church of Christ for every local congregation to serve a meal in November to people in need. Kim Harbath of Ogden UCC reached out to secular organizations as well as other houses of faith to join in serving a meal at the Marshall White Community Center. Interacting with the families and individuals who attended inspired the volunteers to continue our collaboration with an annual meal event.
The project gained momentum. Ten meal events were held at the Marshall White Center from 2011-2019. Events were open to the public, advertised at shelters and four elementary schools, and grew to include children’s activities, free haircuts, hygiene kits, coats and books, and a resource fair to to connect attendees to available community services. Local restaurants prepared most of the food for each meal, enough for 800 servings.
The event grew beyond church sponsorship. In 2017 Free Community Meal attained 501(c)(3)status as a public charity. The planning Board is comprised of volunteers motivated by the magic that happens when people who might otherwise never have met come together to share a meal and conversation. Due to the growing sports schedule at Marshall White our 2019 fall meal event was held at George Washington High School. During the pandemic we focused on GWHS students and their families, serving socially-distanced meals and supplying masks and hand sanitizer. We provided warm hoodies to help students get to school able to focus, and high-interest books to connect them to characters within and beyond their own worlds, letting them know: We’re all in this together.
Post-pandemic, Free Community Meal continues to transition from large events advertised to the public to smaller events and outdoor gatherings. We enjoy partnering with other local organizations, adding what we can to good things happening in Ogden.
Board
Kevin Brown, Logistics & Event Coordinator
Logistics Manager, Location: Ogden
Jennifer Elwell, Chair & Volunteer Coordinator
Educator, Ogden
John Uscilka, Development & Co-Treasurer, Food Coordinator
Contractor, Ogden
Marlene Waters, Co-Treasurer & Community Resource Coordinator
Mission Elder, Ogden
