mt carmel lutheran church

Numbers are up at Mt. Carmel Lutheran Church

A Mt. Carmel chef hard at work

A Mt. Carmel chef hard at work

Nearly 3 years after Mt. Carmel Lutheran Church began its collaboration with the Gathering to serve lunch on the fourth saturday of each month, the meal is going strong. “Our numbers are up, and they are staying up,” Dani Ovanin, the youth ministry coordinator and meal program liaison, explains. They have consistently served between 50-55 guests per meal. With the recent close of a senior meal center in the neighborhood, the meal may even expand to serve more in the community.

Not only has the number of guests increased, but so has the number of volunteers. Mt. Carmel youth help prepare and serve meals as well as Marquette High school students, who seize the opportunity to gain some experience. We are so thankful for Mt. Carmel’s service and their commitment to feeding the hungry in their west side neighborhood.

Mt Carmel volunteers distribute desserts

Mt Carmel volunteers distribute desserts

Mt Carmel Lutheran Church and the Gathering Collaboration Update

Volunteers at the Mt. Carmel meal Saturday, February 23rd
Volunteers at the Mt. Carmel meal Saturday, February 23rd

Mt. Carmel Lutheran Church on Milwaukee’s west side, has a mission that includes “compassionate community and service to others” and they certainly deliver what they promise. In 2011, Mt. Carmel noticed the needs of their community were changing. In an attempt to respond to those needs, they teamed up with the Gathering to start a meal in their neighborhood.  Dani Ovanin, Mt. Carmel’s youth ministry coordinator, explained how it happened. “We used to go door to door asking for food for food drives. Over the years, less and less people were able to give. We realized—hunger is not just an inner-city problem.” At the time, Mt. Carmel was regularly volunteering with the Gathering’s Saturday Lunch Program. After one such volunteer experience, the pastor turned to Dani and said, “we could do this,” and so they did. Mt. Carmel provides the space and volunteers to cook and serve the meal the fourth Saturday of each month, and the Gathering provides the food and supplies.  Thirty high school aged youth from the church have volunteered with the meals over the past several months.  Though the project started slowly with only five guests at the first meal in September 2011, Mt. Carmel is now serving up to 45 individuals each month.  “I am glad we stuck it out, “ Dani said, “The meal is very important to our guests. They are the best part.”

Lunch is served the fourth Saturday of the month from 11:30-12:30 – the same time and same menu as The Gathering’s three traditional community meal sites. Some guests arrive at 11 a.m. and help set up, or just visit and drink coffee. It is important to the Mt. Carmel volunteers to promote a community atmosphere of camaraderie and fellowship, adding personal touches such as place settings, table decorations, hot cocoa with marshmallows, occasional treat bags and even, sometimes, silly hats (see above). As Dani says, “The meal is one of my favorite things to do. It doesn’t matter how bad my week was, when I serve on Saturday I am happy. Everyone is so grateful and helpful.”