WESTFIELD-By 8:30 on the morning of April 22, many hands were already prepping the garlic encrusted pork roast, gravy and sides in the kitchen at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church that would be delivered in a few hours to homebound seniors as part of the Take and Eat program.
Cheryl Wood, Liam Coffey and Moirean Coffey peel carrots as part of a Take and Eat meal on the morning of April 22.
As part of the morning duties, kitchen staff volunteers including cook John Keefe reviewed the menu for the day which included rice pilaf, carrots smothered in butter and brown sugar, apple sauce, dinner roll and dessert (oatmeal cookies and brownies).
“We always have a good assortment of desserts thanks to volunteers,” said Keefe, sorting through the numerous wrapped bags of goodies.
Cheryl Wood coordinates the logistics for the church’s Take and Eat program, now in its third year, which has more than 65 volunteers. The free meals are distributed to seniors on the fourth Sunday of the month.
The Take and Eat program was first established in 2003 by Deacon Francis J. Ryan, Ed.D and his wife, Kathleen, in the Berkshires. The first meals were distributed Easter Sunday 2003 in North Adams. The overall mission of the program is to supplement the government funded weekday Meals on Wheels program. To qualify, a person must be age 60 or older and have a chronic disability such that the person is unable to shop or prepare meals to meet daily nutritional needs.
John Keefe prepares the garlic encrusted pork roast.
“We are planning on distributing 75 meals today,” said Wood.
The balanced meal menus vary each month with favorites including ziti with bolognese sauce, Chicken ala King, chicken stew, and baked chicken.
Since the church has so many volunteers, Wood has two teams of at least 30 people so the groups alternate volunteering every other month.
Two of the volunteers, Westfield High School students Moirean Coffey and Liam Coffey, were peeling carrots and packaging meals as part of Sunday morning’s preparation. The brother and sister team have been volunteering for Take and Eat for close to two years.
Moirean Coffey, a freshman, said she wanted to help seniors and make a difference in her community.
“It’s a great opportunity to give back and put a smile on other people’s faces,” she said, adding, “Providing people in need with a meal is a really great thing to do.”
Liam Coffey echoed those sentiments.
“Our grandfather had used a system like Take and Eat until his passing,” he said. “We wanted to give back to those who had helped our grandfather. This ministry – at its most grassroots level – is helping people in our community most in need.”
Throughout the morning, Wood checks in with all of the volunteers and lends a helping hand where it is needed. Once the meal prep is complete, the meal assembly team arrives at 10:15 a.m. to begin sorting and counting all of the desserts to ensure there are ample amounts for every meal being delivered. By 11 a.m., volunteers are assembling and packaging the hot nutritious meal. Once the meals are placed in coolers, Wood reviews the recipients and routes with the drivers and then deliveries start.
Volunteers, front row, Liam Coffey and Moirean Coffey, Cheryl Masciadrelli, Cheryl Wood and Chris Keefe, middle row, and in back, Mike Haberski, Don Masciadrelli and John Keefe, arrived at 8:30 a.m. to start the process for the Take and Eat program at Our Lady of Blessed Sacrament Church on April 22.
“Seniors in Westfield receive their meal between 11:30 a.m. and noon,” said Wood.
Parishioners at St. Mary’s Parish were the first to institute the Take and Eat program in the city on the second Sunday more than seven years ago, according to Beth Murphy, who has also helped coordinate the church logistics with her husband Steve.
Murphy noted that Dick Cahill was the first person in charge of coordinating the meals ministry, and now Vicki and Bob Stoops have agreed to take over the responsibility of monthly logistics.
“We have two women who do the shopping, Cathy Bastible and Ann Harter, and Mary Brzoska sets the menu each month and Monica Sobczyk and Jeanne Guyotte cook the meals every month,” said Murphy, noting that approximately 64 seniors receive the monthly meal.
“In the past we have served close to 100 people,” said Murphy. “Our numbers do change mostly because our clients are older and not in good health to begin with.”
Murphy said the volunteers have experimented with different meals over the years and now “keep things simple” with offerings of meatloaf, barbecued chicken, and roast pork, and during the summer months, pasta salad and chicken salad, and beans and hot dogs.
Murphy added that Nancy Stefanik makes decorative cards that accompany the meal featuring a feedback form and details on the meal.
“Nancy’s cards also have a cover that goes with the season or holiday,” said Murphy. “We receive thank you cards from our clients who are so appreciative.”
For more information on the Take and Eat program and to sign up, call the parish office at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church at (413) 562-3450, or St. Mary’s Parish at (413) 562-5477. Persons interested in making a donation to the ministry can send a check to either parish and make a notation for the “Take and Eat” program.
“People are very thankful for these meals and look forward to them,” said Wood, noting she receives thank you cards throughout the year from recipients. “The meal distribution also allows for a nice social visit as well as checking in on someone.”
