Summer Lunch 2025
“When people are very different from ourselves, we often find it more comfortable to cook and clean for them than to share in a meal and conversation. We are familiar with roles as helpers but are less certain about being equals eating together. Many of us struggle with simply being present with people in need; our helping roles give definition to the relationship but they also keep it decidedly hierarchical.” –Christine Pohl
June 16 through July 31, 2025
(Monday thru Thursday)
Good Works Summer Lunch takes place (Monday-Thursday) at The Plains United Methodist Church for 7 weeks. Through the leadership of the Good Works staff, and the kindness of many partners and volunteers, Good Works is able to provide another summer of hot, nutritional food to adults and children of all ages!
A little history ……
Since 2009, the Good Works community has provided a daily nutritional meal each summer for and with our neighbors who are hungry and struggling with food insecurity here in rural Ohio. We provided this nutritional meal to adults and children of all ages in partnership with The Plains United Methodist Church for 15 years.
The Summer Lunch grew out of our vision to care for children and our long tradition providing a Summer Kids Discovery Club.
During the summer months, many of our neighbors face the on-going problem of feeding children whose subsidized school lunches are no longer available once school is out. At Good Works, we continue to serve many citizens who experience homelessness, who live on a fixed low-income, and who frequently seek assistance through food pantries. Through the Summer Lunch program, our goal is to create a safe place where people can receive a nutritious meal, build and strengthen friendships with one another and experience what it is like to be invited to step up and serve their neighbors.
Summer Lunch is intentionally inter-generational. We find JOY in welcoming parents and grandparents to share a meal together with their children, grandchildren and neighbors.
We are grateful for the support and partnership of many individuals, local organizations, churches, and businesses who make the lunch possible.
WE are thankful for the donation of food and gift cards.
These programs are entirely driven by gifts from others and partnerships. If you would like to support or help with the 2023 Summer Lunch, e-mail us or call us at 740.594.3339. If you would like to make a donation, click here.
Darlene Wasserman cooks and oversees Summer Lunch
This short article was written by one of our former staff Aaron Smith. It is called “You Are What You Eat,” and you can read it here.