23 years of feeding needy

The church offers a free meal every Friday as part of its community outreach.

By LINDA M. LINONIS

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — A dedicated crew at Price Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church served some 200 turkey dinners Friday to hungry people.

Though the menu had a Thanksgiving flavor to it, it was part of the regular Friday feeding program at the church.

That’s right, every Friday, from noon to 2 p.m., hungry people can come to church and get a free meal. And it’s a complete meal with meat, starch, salad, vegetable and dessert. Sometimes soup and sandwiches are served as part of a lighter summer fare.

And that’s not all. The church, at 920 Dryden Ave., also has a food giveaway once a month on a Wednesday.

Betty Crafter-Royal, a member of Price Memorial, said she has been involved in the feeding program for some 14 years and the last four as coordinator and cook. She credited Thomas Ross, a former church member, with starting the program; and the late David Rose, also a church member, who was the cook.

“Thomas Ross wanted to reach out to the community to needy people,” Crafter-Royal said. “David Rose was a dutiful and dedicated man.”

Ross, now a member of New Bethel Baptist Church, was a special guest at the dinner. “My heart is still here,” he said.

As volunteers spotted Ross in the crowd, there were many hugs and handshakes.

“It was just me and the cook at first,” he recalled. “I volunteered at People Are Hurting and saw how much need there was,” he said.

In fact, the first dinner was held around Thanksgiving in response to a need. It evolved into a weekly event. “Many local businesses helped and donated,” he said.

The tradition has been a part of church work for some 23 years. “We usually get from 50 to 80 people. There are some families, some singles and homeless. Others are senior citizens on fixed incomes,” Crafter-Royal said.

“The ministry reaches out to people who need food. But it’s more than that ... it gives them someone to talk to,” she said. “Sometimes just talking to someone helps you get through something.”

Crafter-Royal said the need is never-ending. “I think the need is escalating because of the economy,” she said. “We’re seeing more people.”

At the last monthly food giveaway, Crafter-Royal said the church distributed 81 bags. If someone has an emergency situation, Crafter-Royal will set up an appointment, meet with them and get food to them. “If people use what we give them right way, it can supplement what they have,” she said.

The church-run food program depends on volunteers.

“We have a dedicated bunch,” Crafter-Royal said. “When someone can’t make it, they call off like a job. They’re very faithful to it.”

Crafter-Royal started the cooking of 12 turkeys earlier in the week.

“It’s real roasted turkey, not processed turkey,” she said of the dinner that also included stuffing, green beans, candied yams, mashed potatoes and gravy and assorted pies.

“I learned to cook from my Mom ... I watched her ... the recipes are in my head,” she said. And after the dinner, those recipes were in appreciative stomachs of hungry people.

The Rev. Rosalyne Mitchell-Martin, who became pastor in June and who worked in a Women, Infants and Children program elsewhere for 20 years, said she has seen firsthand how people pay other bills first then skimp on food.

“This helps people get at least one good meal,” she said. “There is a tremendous need. And this is a blessing to the community.”

The pastor is there to greet people and if they wish to talk or seek pastoral guidance, she’s open to that.

Also attending from Second Harvest Food Bank were Mike Iberis, executive director, and Rebecca Martinez, director of development. “The church is one of our member agencies and one of the 166 food programs in Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties,” Martinez said. “The churches do a wonderful job with this as a community outreach.”