(Dec. 8, 2016) About two dozen volunteers fed hundreds of people during the first Artists Giving Back: Meals for the Hungry drive at St. Paul United Methodist Church on Flower Street last Tuesday.
Developed by the Berlin Arts & Entertainment Committee, Meals for the Hungry was meant to be both a straightforward attempt to feed those who were struggling, and part of a larger outreach to a segment of the community that often feels left out by those on the other side of Route 113.
“It was an incredible success,” Robin Tomaselli, committee member, said. “We figured we served between eat-in, carryout and delivery, more than 260 people.”
Additional food was taken to Diakonia, where another 100 were served people, Tomaselli estimated.
Food for Meals for the Hungry was donated by Berlin shops and restaurants, while volunteers, including many members of the committee and the church, helped cook and serve the food.
Girls from the SAGES program at Worcester Youth and Family, members of the Berlin Police Department and several local business owners also lent a hand.
“It was spectacular. There were young people, old people, all races, different church affiliations – it was just an absolute perfect day,” Tomaselli said. “It was a wonderful experience all around [and] I think everybody felt that way. Every business owner and the artists that participated went above and beyond, and it was amazing.”
It was also somewhat “enlightening,” she said.
“A lot of us live in our own little world, and we’re all really busy and it’s hard to imagine there are people that are already here – not even in our backyard, but in our front yard – that are hungry and in need of companionship,” Tomaselli said. “For me, and I think everybody that was there, it proved that when we all come together and work together anything is possible.”
Tomaselli said artist Patrick Henry helped facilitate Meals for the Hungry, asking his church to allow the committee to use the space and volunteering his own time. Many members of his congregation also pitched in.
“The volunteers from their church alone set up the hall and the men’s ministry baked and carved 14 turkeys, six hams and I cannot even tell you how many pounds of greens,” Tomaselli said. “The day before they were at that church helping set up, working into the night, and then the next day they were back there doing the same thing and working into the night again.
“There was a woman towards the end that came up to me and said ‘this is one of the best days, for me. To see people at our church that own businesses across 113 and we’re all here in fellowship, this is a great day for all of us,’” Tomaselli added. “I said, ‘I feel exactly the same way.’”
Henry helped carve those 14 turkeys and admitted the amount of work was more substantial than he initially thought. He said volunteers finished preparations at about 8:30 on Monday night, and then started up again first thing Tuesday morning.
Still, he said no one complained.
“It was just such high spirits – that’s the best way I can describe it,” Henry said. “The volunteers and the people that got fed – it hit everyone. There was just a whole sense of gratitude that was awesome.”
Already, he said he’s spoken to three different groups that want to host similar functions next year.
As for the larger conversation involved, Tomaselli said there was progress to that affect.
The committee had hoped to start a movement to raise funds and awareness for the dilapidated multipurpose building on Flower Street. The Berlin Community Improvement Association oversees the building.
“There has been a lot of conversation created,” Tomaselli said. “We are still waiting to have a meeting with the members of the BCIA. We have reached out to them and it’s a just matter of organizing it.”
Developed by the Berlin Arts & Entertainment Committee, Meals for the Hungry was meant to be both a straightforward attempt to feed those who were struggling, and part of a larger outreach to a segment of the community that often feels left out by those on the other side of Route 113.
“It was an incredible success,” Robin Tomaselli, committee member, said. “We figured we served between eat-in, carryout and delivery, more than 260 people.”
Additional food was taken to Diakonia, where another 100 were served people, Tomaselli estimated.
Food for Meals for the Hungry was donated by Berlin shops and restaurants, while volunteers, including many members of the committee and the church, helped cook and serve the food.
Girls from the SAGES program at Worcester Youth and Family, members of the Berlin Police Department and several local business owners also lent a hand.
“It was spectacular. There were young people, old people, all races, different church affiliations – it was just an absolute perfect day,” Tomaselli said. “It was a wonderful experience all around [and] I think everybody felt that way. Every business owner and the artists that participated went above and beyond, and it was amazing.”
It was also somewhat “enlightening,” she said.
“A lot of us live in our own little world, and we’re all really busy and it’s hard to imagine there are people that are already here – not even in our backyard, but in our front yard – that are hungry and in need of companionship,” Tomaselli said. “For me, and I think everybody that was there, it proved that when we all come together and work together anything is possible.”
Tomaselli said artist Patrick Henry helped facilitate Meals for the Hungry, asking his church to allow the committee to use the space and volunteering his own time. Many members of his congregation also pitched in.
“The volunteers from their church alone set up the hall and the men’s ministry baked and carved 14 turkeys, six hams and I cannot even tell you how many pounds of greens,” Tomaselli said. “The day before they were at that church helping set up, working into the night, and then the next day they were back there doing the same thing and working into the night again.
“There was a woman towards the end that came up to me and said ‘this is one of the best days, for me. To see people at our church that own businesses across 113 and we’re all here in fellowship, this is a great day for all of us,’” Tomaselli added. “I said, ‘I feel exactly the same way.’”
Henry helped carve those 14 turkeys and admitted the amount of work was more substantial than he initially thought. He said volunteers finished preparations at about 8:30 on Monday night, and then started up again first thing Tuesday morning.
Still, he said no one complained.
“It was just such high spirits – that’s the best way I can describe it,” Henry said. “The volunteers and the people that got fed – it hit everyone. There was just a whole sense of gratitude that was awesome.”
Already, he said he’s spoken to three different groups that want to host similar functions next year.
As for the larger conversation involved, Tomaselli said there was progress to that affect.
The committee had hoped to start a movement to raise funds and awareness for the dilapidated multipurpose building on Flower Street. The Berlin Community Improvement Association oversees the building.
“There has been a lot of conversation created,” Tomaselli said. “We are still waiting to have a meeting with the members of the BCIA. We have reached out to them and it’s a just matter of organizing it.”