(Photo by Jennifer P. Brown)
The Breaking Bread community dinner church is again serving its weekly meal inside the Aaron McNeil House, organizer Donna Williams said.
After several weeks of serving only to-go meals because of coronavirus safety measures, volunteers are now providing meals inside the center for those who want to stay. To-go meals are available as well.
Changes that have been made because of the virus include setting tables for four people rather than eight. All of the volunteer servers wear masks and gloves, and diners are encouraged to keep social distance while they wait in line for the meal, said Williams. In addition, all of the dinnerware is disposable.
The free dinner is available to anyone at 5 p.m. every Thursday. The Aaron McNeil House is at the corner of East Second and South Campbell streets.
Williams, a Methodist minister who lives in Hopkinsville, established the dinner church last fall. The meal includes a brief devotional message.
Prior to pandemic, the dinner church served 40 to 50 people a week. The number has grown to 50 to 70.
Williams is relying on local donors to help cover expenses for food and supplies. Contributions can be sent to Breaking Bread Dinner Church in care of Saint John United Methodist Church, 2808 S. Virginia St., Hopkinsville, KY 42240.
This story has been updated.
(Jennifer P. Brown is the editor and founder of Hoptown Chronicle. Reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org.)
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. Brown was a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era, where she worked for 30 years. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board past president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. She serves on the Hopkinsville History Foundation's board.
