Community Potluck: come one, come all

By SANDY LONG

PIKE AND WAYNE COUNTIES, PA — It all started with an idea, and a potluck meal with 12 or so friends, gathered at the home of Lenore Rogan and Eduardo Antonetti. They wanted to do something about hunger, and the fact that 28.8 percent of Pennsylvanians live in poverty or just above the poverty line, often skipping meals they can’t afford.

The group wanted to make a difference, not through charity, but by building community and sharing resources. They came up with a concept: a monthly meal, potluck-style, open to all and free of charge. And the first one will happen this Friday, September 5.

The event, which Rogan describes as “a community-based initiative designed to help feed hungry people while building solidarity among residents from diverse backgrounds,” will feature a potluck-style meal accompanied by a children’s book and toy exchange. It will be held at St. John’s Parish Hall on Route 739 in Lords Valley, PA, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. And although the meals are not based in any particular religion or set of beliefs, the first will occur at the Catholic church, where Father Paul Mullen has welcomed the positive effort.

Held to “satisfy your hunger for food and community,” the meals are being organized by people who believe that “when times get tough, we all benefit from pulling together.”

It’s a concept that threads through many belief systems, the idea of awakening compassion for others, remaining open and vulnerable to what you can learn through the process of walking in someone else’s shoes and understanding their experience a little better. “Of course, it will also include food, fun and toys,” added Rogan.

Part of the approach includes an opportunity for children to get into the spirit of sharing and thereby gaining a better understanding of their roles as members of a community, by bringing unwanted toys to a toy swap. Next month, instead of toys, participants will be invited to bring Halloween costumes to contribute.

Efforts are being made to avoid using disposable tableware, so volunteers will utilize the church’s dishware for the meal. The Girl Scout troop based at Wallenpaupack High School and the Stitchers Club at St. Vincent DePaul church are sewing reusable napkins.

While Rogan acknowledges the need for connecting people with resources, she asserts that connecting people with one another is even more important. “People need to get together to solve problems. We can’t wait for our government to do it; we need to take responsibility ourselves for the challenges that may lie ahead during this changing economy,” she said.

The monthly meals have been scheduled at least through May 2009, and may continue beyond that, though possibly in a different form. The next Community Potluck will be held at the Wallenpaupack High School in Hawley, PA on Friday, October 3.

For more information contact Rogan at lenorerogan@gmail.com or 570/947-5386.

Pike/Wayne Community Potluck

WHO: You. Your family. Your friends. People of all faiths. People of no faith. People with food. Hungry people.

WHAT: A free potluck dinner eaten in good company. Bring a healthy, homemade dish to share. No junk food or alcohol, please. Those who can’t afford to bring a dish can contribute by helping with set-up, serving or clean-up. Children are invited to bring an old book or toy to trade, though this is not required and extra toys will be on hand.

WHERE: St. John’s Parish Hall, Route 739, Lords Valley, PA.

WHEN: Friday, September 5, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

WHY: A great way to eat if you are hungry, give neighbors a hand if you are able and strengthen the bonds of community that support one another in times of need.

Food for thought: hunger hits more than one third of local children

Between 2007 and 2008, kids qualifying for free/reduced price lunches at the Wallenpaupack school district increased from 33 percent to 38.3 percent. At the Delaware Valley school distict, the numbers rose from 18.6 percent to 19.1 percent (PA Department of Education). According to U.S. Census Bureau standards, 43.3 percent of Wayne County residents and 29.9 percent of Pike County residents are poor or low-income.