Monday Lunch at UMC

Monday lunch is a weekly service opportunity that is offered at United Methodist Church (UMC) on College St. in Athens. Volunteers arrive starting at 9 am to help prepare the food for that day's lunch. Most volunteers sign up for one hour shifts and can prepare, serve, eat or clean up the food depending on when they arrive.

This service project has become increasingly important during the current economic crisis. The lunch provides an opportunity for people who are a part of the lower-income bracket to save money on at least one meal a week.

"Most of the people serve don't have a strong support group," explains Brendan Heil, an occasional volunteer at Monday Lunch. "They don't have the means or they don't have family, friends or other connections in the area."

John Gedeon, a regular volunteer at the Monday Lunch program, says that a wide variety of people participate. "There are lots of foreign exchange students, people who rely on free meals, students as well as teachers."

Gedeon explains the experience as similar to "cooking with Grandma." The long term staff who organize the meals figure out what type of meal can be made from the food donations that usually come from the Athens Food bank and then split up the duties. They then share their cooking knowledge with the people who help prepare the food. Also like grandma, they insist that no one leaves hungry, volunteers included.

"Serving at Monday Lunch is different from other free meal programs," Gedeon says, "It's not the rich serving the poor. Everyone is always so nice and everyone eats as a community."

When asked why he goes to Monday Lunch, Heil says that it is an easy job to do and a good way to give back to the community. It is also a convenient service project being on College St. and a manageable volunteer opportunity to add into a hectic schedule.

Gedeon relates his love for Monday Lunch with his love for cooking. This aspect is what initially got him interested in the project, but the people and the friendly atmosphere are what keep him going back for more.

Half of the volunteers at any given shift at Monday Lunch are from Alpha Phi Omega, while the other half come from various organizations or individual interests around campus.