Sunday Evening Meal Program

Sunday Evening Meal Program

In 1988 at a Lenten dinner and study program, a group of FPC members saw a film about a congregation in Philadelphia that offered meals to homeless people. Those present wondered why First Presbyterian couldn’t do the same. The Greene Square Meals program offered hot meals in the evening, Monday through Friday, but no meals were available on the weekends. The first meal at FPC was offered on November 6, 1988.Since then, the program has continued to grow.  SEMP receives financial support from the Local Mission Budget, the Presbyterian Women through proceeds from the Thrift Shop, and the annual Hunger Offering and Linn County Emergency Food & Shelter grant money.

One or two people arrive at 2:00 to help our cook, Linda Willard, prepare the meal. Another group of eight to ten arrives at 4:00 to assist with last minute preparations. The meal is served from 4:30 until 5:30. Clean up is usually finished by 6:00.
Volunteers from our congregation and other churches, youth groups, and civic organizations help each Sunday.

Volunteers are always needed, so if you’d like to help, contact the office at 319-364-6148

We have 2 different ways to sign up.
 
1. Sign up to serve with our core team by helping with food prep, dish washing, hosting, or greeting. Sign-up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0945a8ae2aa1fe3-sunday2#/
 
2. Sign up to be part of the serving team. We share this responsibility with area churches, businesses and schools. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0945A8AE2AA1FE3-semp#/
serving food at Sunday Evening Meals
serving food at Sunday Evening Meals
washing dishes at Sunday Evening Meals
Cleaning at Sunday Evening Meals
serving food at Sunday Evening Meals
serving food at Sunday Evening Meals

Non-Discrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights -1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or email: Program.Intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

12/09/2022