The pork was pulled, the potatoes were mashed and the beans were baked.
Pitchers of lemonade had been mixed, and coffee was brewing.
Now, all the volunteers at Friendship Baptist Church needed was for their guests to arrive.
They didn’t have to wait long. Soon after the church’s first free community meal opened its doors at 5 p.m. on July 17, members of the public made their way in to enjoy food and fellowship together. Sitting together in groups and mingling with church volunteers and other guests, the diners had the opportunity to fill their stomachs and share a meal with others.
They enjoyed slices of pie or trays of cookies, while enjoying a puppet show and music put on by church members.
The event was the result of months of hard work by the congregation, which made the enjoyment brought during the inaugural meal that much more meaningful.
“We want people to know they have a place to come if they need help or they need fellowship,” said Dezra Findley, a member of the church who helped organize the meals. ”Our goals are to reach people spiritually while feeding them physically.”
Over the past decade, churches throughout Johnson County have used their resources to host free meals for the community. Monday through Friday, people can attend the meals if they’re in need of food, or simply want to sit down with others to eat.
Ten other churches in Franklin, Greenwood and White River Township take part in the program. Their efforts inspired members of Friendship Baptist Church to organize it, as well.
The idea first came from Ben and Robin Burgdoefer, who came to Findley wondering if it would be a good fit for the church. Findley liked the idea, but has struggled with a variety of health problems over the past few years, including being diagnosed with metastatic terminal breast cancer, which has no cure.
She also broke both of her feet, which made simple chores such as standing to cook a meal difficult.
“They said we should have community meals in our church, and I thought they were right. But, with me being ill, I needed some time,” she said.
Findley was having a conversation with friend and fellow church member, Carol Kennedy, in early 2023. With cooking becoming so hard for her, Findley suggested looking into community meals as an option, just to give her a break.
The meals would also give her a chance to learn more about the ministries at other churches to determine if Friendship Baptist Church could offer one.
“I found out that those meals are not just for poor people. They were for people who were lonely, widows or widowers who didn’t have anyone. It became a community, a family,” she said. “It was an encouragement for them to have a meal provided to them where they didn’t have to worry.”
At each church they went to, Findley told her story, explaining why she had come and what Friendship Baptist Church was hoping to do. She’d also write notes and leave them for the volunteers to find afterward.
“I would tell them the truth — that I was there because I’m terminally ill, and there are nights when I can’t fix supper,” she said. “There are times when I just cry; I’m good in the morning, but at night, I’m not. Knowing we could go and get something to eat was such a blessing.”
The churches provided tips on how to create a well-rounded menu that wouldn’t be too expensive, how to save money on groceries for the meals, where to shop and how to make a budget.
Armed with information and advice from the other churches, Findley and Kennedy had an idea of what would work at Friendship and what would not. They took their plan for a community meal to church leaders, including pastor Fred Brown.
Unanimously, they all agreed the church should take it on.
Friendship organizers decided to hold their meal on a Monday, one of the few days on the community meal calendar that was open. Plans were made to have the first event on July 17.
A sign-up sheet passed around the congregation was filled up almost immediately, and a call-out for donations generated more than $2,000 in a matter of days.
“It was overwhelming. I knew God was in this,” Findley said.
The first meal was a success, with about 25 people coming to eat throughout the evening. Church members shared gospel music and information about other ministries at the church. One member put on a puppet show to keep diners entertained.
With such a pleasant taste in their mouths from the initial meal, they’re looking forward to keeping the momentum going at the next meal, scheduled for Aug. 21.
“We’re expecting great things,” Findley said.
IF YOU GO
Free community meals through July 31
Tuesday: 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Greenwood United Methodist Church, 525 N. Madison Ave., breakfast for lunch, hash browns, fruit, dessert
Tuesday: 5-7 p.m., Turning Point Church, 3600 N. Morton St., Franklin, chicken and noodles, green beans, bread, cookies
Wednesday: 5-6 p.m., Tabernacle Christian Church, 198 N. Water St., Franklin, smoked pulled pork, cole slaw, dessert
Thursday: 4:15-5:30 p.m., Mt. Auburn Church, 3100 Stones Crossing Road, Greenwood, barbecue meatballs, sides, dessert
Friday: 5-6:30 p.m., Grace United Methodist Church, 1300 E. Adams St., Franklin, Tuscan tortellini pasta salad, garlic bread, fruit, dessert
July 31: 5-6:30 p.m., Greenwood Christian Church, 2045 Averitt Road, Greenwood, chicken and noodles, green beans, rolls, dessert.
For a full August schedule and future meals, go to Johnson County IN Community Meals on Facebook.
