Nothing in return
 FEATURED STORY · April 23, 2009
by By Alyssa Jackson
FROM THE COON RAPIDS ENTERPRISE FRONT PAGE ARCHIVES
This weekend will mark the third free community meal offered by the First United Methodist Church. The meal, hosted by the Mission Outreach Team of the church, will be held 5-7 p.m. on Sunday, April 26.
 “We had a little over 100 people at the first meal,” Mission Outreach Team leader Clarissa Kelly said.
The event is intended as a chance for community members to get together and enjoy a good, free meal.
“We thought we needed to do more outreach within our own community,” Kelly said. “We’ve found it’s a good opportunity for the community to gather.”
Pastor Lynn Gunderson said the meal is also intended to help those who are in need. However, it is not limited to just those individuals.
“Everyone is invited,” he said.
The goal of the event is to get community members from inside and outside the church together with people who are in need or people who are not in need and give them all a chance to fellowship.
“We don’t want to stereotype people, so it’s a whole community event,” Gunderson said.
The free meals are funded entirely by donations – either of food or of funds – from the community. The meals have been a success, Gunderson said.
“It’s gotten people’s attention,” he said. “It’s hard for people to understand it’s free, they’re so used to coming to a church function and paying. We just want to help. We don’t want anything in return.”
The church does accept help from volunteers in the kitchen during the event. Those who would like to volunteer may simply show up at the church during the event and ask for work.
The church plans to provide one free meal per month during the school months of the year. But they may sneak a meal in this summer, too. If not, this will be the last free meal until September.
The First United Methodist Church is also a distribution point for food pantry goods donated by many area churches for those in need. Monday mornings Pastor Gunderson will be available at the church to hand out goods to those in need.
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