BY CONNIE COUSINS
correspondent@centrecountygazette.com
BELLEFONTE — Did you know that lunch is served every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 11:30 a.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, at 128 W. Howard St., Bellefonte?
And, it doesn’t cost a dime. Donations, however, are graciously accepted.
The program has been operating since October 1995, when representatives from 14 area churches formed the Bellefonte Community Lunch Program. Amazingly, the effort continues now 27 years later.
The community lunch workers ask guests to sign up ahead of time, though those who work the lunches know that this is not always possible. COVID-19 protocols have changed procedures. At present, the meals are either eatin or take-out.
The organization says it has no restrictions about who it serves. Instead, it attempts to reach out to folks who not only need food for the body, but fellowship for the spirit as well. The mission statement, written in 1996, is “…to bring people into closer fellowship with almighty God by showing Christian love and caring in serving meals, free of charge, to the people of Bellefonte and surrounding areas.”
Although the First Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte had been the host church, sadly, they closed it at the end of 2021. At that time, Trinity United Methodist assumed the title of host church for the meals.
The current coordinator is Jo Ann Sengle, and she has done it for 15 years.
She said, “There are 13 churches involved at this time and another church that picks up the odd extra day in a month or steps in where needed. We work out the schedule so that each church serves lunch once a month. In addition, we meet quarterly to discuss problems, needs, and suggestions.
“Keeping our organization simple and streamlined seems to work well. We are proud of how the various congregations have worked together in this program for 26 years.”
Each church serves on the same day of their week, making it easier for all. The other members present for the meeting and this article were Laurel Schreffler and Susan Hardy, both from St. John Lutheran Church in Bellefonte. The coordinator, Jo Ann Sengle, is a Bald Eagle Valley Community UMC member.
The program accepts both monetary and product donations from individuals and community and church programs. The program is not a registered nonprofit and receives no government support.
The Bellefonte Community Lunch Program has a checking account at First National Bank. Mail donations to Jo Ann Sengle, 605 Sengle Lane, Julian, PA 16844. Those interested can also send correspondence to Trinity UMC 128 W. Howard St., Bellefonte, PA 16823, Attention: Bellefonte Lunch Program.
Churches in the Community Lunch Program include Faith United Methodist, Fleming Free Methodist Church, Runville UMC, Brookside Wesleyan, Howard UMC, First Presbyterian, Bald Eagle Valley Community UMC, St. John’s Lutheran, Zion Community, St. John United Church of Christ, St. John’s Catholic, Trinity UMC, Howard Christian Church and St. Mark’s Snydertown.
Committee members said the numbers at the lunches have gone down and they would like more people to know that they are still serving every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
