Community Corner

'RISE to the TASK' Community Dinner Provides Hot Meals Weekly

100 hot meals are served to Hightstown and East Windsor residents.

The “RISE to the TASK” community dinner is in full swing and serving one hundred hot meals weekly.

But it’s more than just a dinner, according Gail Zelenak who coordinates volunteers for the dinner and has been volunteering at RISE volunteer for about five years. 

“It feels so good, if you were to walk into the dining hall there’s happiness,” Zelenak said.

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Books and toys are given out to children, a piano plays and people congregate, and community groups donate different things weekly for the dinner.

Eet Gud Bakery in Hamilton provided bread, Danishes and rolls, a Girl Scout troop created placemats for the tables and Mt Olivet Baptist Church in Hightstown made casserole dishes and sent the hot food over in addition to the dinner TASK provided. 

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“We’ve been lucky because we’ve been able to get donations from other community groups and other people in the community,” RISE Executive Director Leslie Koppel said. 

Although there are plenty of volunteers, Zelenak said they never turn anyone away. Peddie School student groups are rotating volunteering each week, and there has also been a steady stream of returning volunteers.

“It’s just a wonderful program and I’m happy to be apart of it,” Zelenak said.

The community dinner serves about 80 percent adults and 20 percent children at the First United Methodist Church every Thursday from 4:30 to 6 p.m., Koppel said. People can either sit and eat dinner, or take food to go. Since the dinner started on Nov. 3, there has been a hot meal provided every Thursday except for Thanksgiving day.

Dinners from the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) include a protein, starch, fruit and drink, and RISE provides the ambiance with the piano player, coffee and baked goods. To date, they have not had to turn anyone away from a meal. 

Zelenak said one of the biggest challenges is outreach to the community, but they are working on it.

“When I leave there at night I’m just filled with such warmth for all the positive feelings that are surrounding the dining hall all night," Zelenak said.

To volunteer or donate, contact Gail Zelenak at gzelenak@rise-community-services.org or RISE at info@rise-community-services.org.


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