It was the perfect storm: Desire, location and a group of dedicated people willing to pitch in coming together to serve the needs of the community.
The concept was simple: Supper on the Square serves anyone in the area, without distinction, searching for a meal.
The solution came about by the coming together of two area churches: the First Congregational Church and the First United Methodist Church. The former gave birth to the idea, while the latter pitched in by providing the building; both groups donate the manpower to meet the need in the heart of downtown Mansfield.
The teams of volunteers having been going strong for over 20 years. Some volunteers are relative newbies, while others have been helping since its inception.
Steve Witchey and his family serve regularly, helping out with various aspects of the program for the past three years. That includes his daughter Ericka and his wife Carol.
“I like serving others. It looked like a lot of fun and I wanted to come down and be a part of it,” Carol said about her contributions in the kitchen.
Steve Witchey helps in a variety areas.
“I take count of people coming in. When everybody’s all done, I come down [to the kitchen] afterwards and see if there’s clean up to do, trash to take out, or tables to clean, things like that,” Steve said.
Volunteer Bob Hunn has tried to stay out of the kitchen over his many years of service. “I help by carrying stuff out when they’re done, watching the door, all the guy stuff,” Hunn said.
Sylvia Kolunie has been a steady volunteer at the meal program for nearly 20 years.
“I was a teacher in a school, and it made me realize that everybody is different and some people don’t have what other people have. And I just got very involved because I want everybody to have something,” Kolunie said. Over the years, Kolunie has done it all from helping set up, serve and clean up.
“If we didn’t have our [volunteers], it would be very hard. I think it’s a wonderful thing that’s been done and that they’re doing it here,” she said.
Exchange student Eric Chang from Taiwan volunteered for the first time. He helped for a simple reason.
“People need help. We have the food, and if I can do it, I help them,” Chang said.
The Methodist and Congregational churches take turns throughout the month getting meals ready. For the Congregational Church, each committee within the organization takes a turn manning the prep, cooking and clean-up duties on the fourth Monday of the month. The Methodist church is responsible for the program two other weeks in the month.
The program is adaptable, changing the nights the meal is served to adapt to the needs in the community, or where other programs leave gaps.
The meal served on the last Monday night of the month has grown. “It’s the end of the month. And resources are virtually gone. And there’s a growing need in the community,” says program volunteer Ellen Eckert.
For regular patrons Chuck and Tammy George, who attended a recent meal with their daughter Sierra, the Supper on the Square bridges the gap in their monthly budget. “If we can walk to the meal, we’ll come. It helps us out at the end of the month when things are tight,” Tammy said.
Supper on the Square is served at the First United Methodist church located at 10 N. Diamond St. Mansfield. Meals are served every Monday night, February through May. From June through January, meals are served on the second, third and fourth Mondays. No meals are served on the fifth Mondays.
“I was a teacher in a school, and it made me realize that everybody is different and some people don’t have what other people have. And I just got very involved because I want everybody to have something,” Sylvia Kolunie said.
