Bridge of Hope Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center, Iowa, teamed up with a local nonprofit organization this month to feed 278 people in their community.
Dave Mulder helps prepare the community meal.
Ryan Dekruys
The meal was an opportunity to form friendships in the community interdenominationally and interracially, according to Ann Ter Horst, who organized the dinner. “We hope to draw everyone together,” she said.
The Bridge of Hope dinner was one of the monthly meals sponsored by Zestos, a nonprofit organization that collects unused food from local bakeries and food preparation companies to donate to community members in need.
“Often the people who do come to the community meal need a little extra boost,” Ter Horst said.
Ter Horst, along with 29 other volunteers from the church, planned a meal of burgers, brats, potato salad, and applesauce.
Bridge of Hope sought to benefit others in the community by hosting this meal. However, as they began preparations, Ter Horst found that the volunteers were benefiting just as much.
“You really don’t have to put in that much effort, but you get huge rewards,” she said. “It’s fun to work together as a group because when you work alongside someone you get to know them.”