Every weekday the corps building in the small city of Oshkosh, Wis., is filled with the smells of a freshly made, hot, hearty meal ready to satisfy the hungry bellies of more than 170 people.
From 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., guests are welcomed to join in fellowship with one another over lunch. It’s supplemented by a sack lunch provided on Sunday after the worship service.
It’s one way Major Jim Mungai, corps officer with his wife, Major Penny Mungai, says The Salvation Army is helping to fight food insecurity and loneliness in the community.
During the lunch hour, Majors Jim and Penny grab a tray and enjoy the meal alongside guests. They make sure to greet regulars and newcomers alike, offer a listening ear, prayer and an invitation to corps activities, and refer those in need of additional support to the social services staff.
As a result of their accessibility and kindness, they have built relationships with many of the regular visitors to the lunch program and have seen several among the congregation on Sunday mornings.
“This is our ministry niche here,” Major Jim said. “Our only heartache is knowing some of the people coming in for lunch won’t eat again until their next meal at the corps.”
With the cost of necessities seeming to increase with every visit to the grocery store, the major said that more than one in 10 Oshkosh families relies on the corps food pantry to supplement what they are able to afford. The lunch program helps to offset expenses even more, and demand for both continues to grow as people struggle to make ends meet.
“People are just barely making it by budget wise,” he said. “We’re feeding not only those experiencing
homelessness or battling addiction, but also seniors and whole families, especially when kids are out of school. The seniors are on fixed incomes, the families are struggling. So, this is helping stretch their funds.”
The lunch program is successful thanks to stellar cook Laura Selenka and the hard work of volunteers who help with serving and cleaning up after the meal. Volunteers include several church groups and community organizations, some of which have made it part of their weekly or monthly commitments. In the summer, for example, an executive team from a local company comes once a week to fire up the grills. Some volunteer groups consider it a privilege to make a weekly visit to the corps and say it’s the highlight of their week.
“We anticipate seeing a large increase in the number of people served,” concluded Major Jim. “We’re grateful for the blessing of this ministry to our community.”
