SACO — Twice a week, the Saco Meals Program serves up free meals at Most Holy Trinity Church.
“We don’t ask any questions. Anyone can come,” said co-coordinator Charlene Soucy.
The program is run by a team of dedicated volunteers, said co-coordinator Jackie Fontaine. Individual volunteers, as well as crews from local churches and businesses, help serve and prepare the meals.
The Saco Meals Program has been in existence for 22 years, and recently became incorporated as a non-profit.
The program receives food from York County Food Rescue, as well as donations, and serves dinner Monday and Thursday, with guests arriving at about 4:15 p.m. Dinner is served from 4:45-5:15 p.m.
On Thursday, volunteers were dishing out bowls of fruit salad as the smell of roast beef, potatoes and carrots wafted through the kitchen.
Fontaine said volunteers “put their heads together” and create three course meals using the items they have.
Any leftovers go home with the dinner guests. Nothing is wasted, said Fontaine.
There is also what program volunteers call the “giving table,” which has bread and dessert items that are slated to expire as well as an abundance of fresh produce. Dinner patrons can take home a bag of the items, which are donated by a grocery store as well as local gardeners.
“We’re really thrilled to be able to share healthy foods along with treats,” said Fontaine.
Fontaine and Soucy have seen an increase in patronage recently. Last year, the program averaged about 48 dinner guests each night. This year, it’s averaging 65 a night, and they can recall a day when 77 people came for dinner.
Soucy said they are also seeing an increase of families coming to the meals.
Both Fontaine and Soucy say they enjoy coordinating the program and find the work very fulfilling.
At the end of the day, Soucy said, she’s tired, “but, I can go to bed with a smile on my face.”
A fundraiser concert to raise money for the program will be held at Thornton Academy’s Performing Arts Center on Sept. 18 at 3 p.m. The Works of Heart concert will feature a number of musical performers, including Michelle Currie, a singer and pianist from Boston; the Jennifer Comeau Band from Kennebunkport, and The Pepperell Squares, a teenage a capella group from Saco.
Tickets are $10 and can be purchased in advance at several venues, including Most Holy Trinity Church, Saco; Union Church, Biddeford Pool; Saco & Biddeford Savings, Saco; and Midtown Music, Biddeford.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.
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