A free community meal and cold weather clothing will be available at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church on Friday.
Black bean chili, sandwiches, and pastries are on the menu, a press release said. Dine-in or take-out will be available from 5 to 6 p.m. Everyone is invited.
It’s the monthly Stone Soup Ministry meal, which is held the last Friday of every month at the same time in the Social Hall of the Church. The Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church is at 1500 Oak Ridge Turnpike.
Also available will be free gently worn jackets and coats as well as some new gloves, hats, scarves, and other warm clothing items all in various sizes, the press release said.
“We strive to serve nutritious, homemade meals to our guests at every Stone Soup meal,” said team member Abbie Moore. “Tables are set with flower centerpieces and china and silverware. We encourage our guests to stay awhile after dinner to visit with each other and the team members. There are a lot of connections that are made, especially among guests who are experiencing loneliness in their lives.”
The Stone Soup Ministry name is derived from the Stone Soup Fable, a medieval tale in which a hungry stranger came upon a small village. Having no food, he put water and a few stones in a large pot to boil. The villagers, who were suffering from a meager harvest, each contributed a bit of food, a carrot, a potato, and other items. In the end, the stranger and the villagers sat down to the meal together.
In modern times, the story is usually told as a lesson in cooperation.
For more information, call the ORUUC office at (865) 483-6761.
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