Poverty and food security are issues that face low-income families in the Southeastern Ohio region every day, and one local organization is making an effort to calm those doubts.
Every Thursday at 5:30 p.m., United Campus Ministry opens its doors to provide a free supper for low-income neighborhood members. Thursday Supper is a registered OU organization whose purpose is to present a place for people to volunteer, eat and socialize.
This dinner is more than a meal. It gives people a sense of being a part of something
said Joe Koppelkom, an Athens County resident.
Koppelkom added that Thursday Supper is community-oriented in comparison to other weekly meals in and around Athens.
I think people come here to see their friends as much as they do to get something to eat said Shannon Stewart, a third-year senior majoring in social work and the meal intern at UCM. It's not just food for people's bellies; it's food for their souls.
Stewart, who has been involved in Thursday Supper since her freshman year, said that although most volunteers come to Thursday Supper in groups like Greek life and residence halls, individuals looking to get involved with community service are encouraged to come in as well.
Volunteers start arriving at UCM at 4 p.m.
In addition to Thursday Supper, UCM hosts Saturday Lunch every week at 1 p.m.
They also offer several service-learning trips to OU students throughout the year, including one to rebuild housing and facilities in New Orleans in December.
To learn more about Thursday Supper and other events hosted by UCM, visit them online at ucmathens.org or look them up on Facebook.
UCM will be holding their annual open house 5 p.m.-7 p.m. Thursday at 18 N. College Street.
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Culture
Olivia Young
