Salvation Army to host free community meal

Kelly Zach and Carol Cook are throwing a dinner party this Friday night, but instead of inviting a few friends they’ve invited the whole city of Newton. On Friday, The Salvation Army will hold its first Supper Club event from 5 to 7 p.m. at The Salvation Army Fellowship Hall. After seeing a need in the community, organizers are planning to host a dinner every month on the last Friday of the month.

“Both of us have always wanted to do a community meal, and both of us love to cook,” Zach said.

Zach, a case manager with The Salvation Army, said she was motivated to create the event after seeing members of the community who were struggling to make ends meet at the end of the month. Cook said she’s seen the same problems. As a Salvation Army officer stationed in Fort Dodge, Cook and her husband hosted a community meal every day during the week, as well as an end of the month dinner. The meals are an opportunity to for community members to eat, but they’re also a chance to enjoy some fellowship as well, Cook said.

“I just thought that this would be one way of giving them something hot and nourishing to get them through the weekend,” Cook said. “It’ll serve two purposes, it’ll feed them and it’ll also fill their hunger for fellowship.”

While several churches in the Newton area do offer community meals, Zach said she feels like The Salvation Army can fill a unique niche in the community. Members of the community who receive assistance from The Salvation Army will feel more comfortable coming in for a community meal at the fellowship hall where they’ll see Salvation Army staffers they already have a relationship with, Zach said.

“I think they’re more comfortable coming here, I don’t think it’s going to create a barrier for anyone to come here,” Zach said. “I want people to be looking forward to this and to bring their friends.”

Janelle Cleveland, the captain of Newton’s Salvation Army, said feeding people represents an important part of the church’s mission. Even though The Salvation Army offers a food pantry and a bread line she said the organization is always looking at ways to meet the needs of the people they serve.

“Our mission is to meet human needs in his name,” Cleveland said. “Food is a human need.”

The monthly dinners will feature a different theme, Friday’s event is centered around a “home cooked” theme. Zach and Cook will spend most of Friday preparing the meal, which will consist of Iowa pork chops, meatloaf and a vegetable side. For May the duo is already planning a “southern barbecue night” with pulled pork and live music to entertain diners.

More than just a meal, both women emphasized the fellowship aspect of the event, they want residents to have a chance to come together and visit with one another. Next month they’re trying to organize some live music for the supper club. Cook said she wants the event to be open to everyone, no matter who they are.

“As long as they’re respectful they can come and eat, it doesn’t matter if they’re rich or poor everyone needs fellowship,” Cook said. “It’s going to give them a couple hours to spend together with others.”

With Friday fast approaching, Cook said she’s already been working to prepare the meal. She’s been shopping for deals on hamburger, and last week she stopped into the Newton Hy-Vee grocery store to pick up 60 Iowa chops to make sure she has plenty of food no matter how many people show up. If the event takes off, Cook is hoping to make connections with vendors to find a sponsor to help sponsor the event.

“I’d like to see it be successful, hopefully, the numbers are good and the fellowship is fulfilling and we’d be able to see some funding come in so it can continue,” Cook said.

Contact David Dolmage at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or ddolmage@newtondailynews.com