VAC offering community meals three time a week through stimulus funding

DeKALB – Having a hot meal at no charge is a real blessing for Stan Wojciechowski.

“With the way food’s going up constantly, the $200 (in food stamps) doesn’t cut it,” he said.

The disability payments Wojciechowski receives are often not enough to cover food, rent and other expenses, he said. When he saw a sign for free dinners posted at Golden Years Plaza, the senior public-housing complex where he lives, he was one of the first people to arrive for the first dinner on Wednesday night.

Voluntary Action Center’s first Community Dinner was offered Wednesday at no cost and will be held every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for the next three months.

Ellen Rogers, associate director of the VAC, said the funding for the program comes from the federal stimulus package signed into law earlier this year by President Barack Obama. There is enough money to hold the dinners for three months, she said, and VAC hopes to secure funding to continue the dinners at least one night a week after the stimulus funding runs out.

“There is a real need for this,” Rogers said. “These are tough economic times. ... We thought this is really worth a try. Three nights a week could really make a difference in people’s lives.”

VAC has heard from agencies like Hope Haven, a homeless shelter that also serves meals, that more area residents are in need of food, Rogers said.

Anyone can come to the meals, which are free, Rogers said. Volunteers are also needed to help serve the meals, and paper supplies and canned food will also be accepted.

Six volunteers helped at the first dinner, on Wednesday, said VAC Executive Director Tom Zucker, who was on hand to greet visitors and make sure the meal ran smoothly.

As she waited to serve meatloaf on Wednesday, Naomi Johnson said it was the first time she’s volunteered with VAC, but that she heard about the opportunity when she was volunteering at the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry.

She made oatmeal raisin cookies to go along with Wednesday’s dinner.

“It really is an informal network of people willing to give their time to causes and events,” Zucker said of the volunteer base.

VAC will make the food, and the dinners will be held at the DeKalb Community Center on Grove Street in DeKalb because the agency already provides a lunch program to seniors there, Rogers said.

“But there are three meals a day,” Zucker said, and one of the strings tied to the money was that a new program had to be enacted.
 “We are really excited about this,” Rogers said. “The response already from the community have been tremendous, as always. ... We think this is going to be a tremendous community effort.”

If You Go



What: Voluntary Action Center’s Community Dinner

When: 5:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays

Where: DeKalb Luncheon Site, 330 Grove St. in DeKalb

Who: Anyone in need

Cost: Free

To volunteer or donate or for information: Call Ellen Rogers at 815-758-3932