Interfaith Dinner Bell cooks feed on desire to help

Published 10:39 pm Friday, June 26, 2009

It’s a good thing for the Interfaith Dinner Bell program that Maureen Malley, a teacher at Sequoia High School in Everett, has experience cooking for lots of people.

Malley was a high school volunteer at a camp where she was assistant cook and a baker. She has volunteered at churches in kitchens, and during summers she cooked for large numbers of people at summer camps.

“I have no formal training,” Malley said.

But cook delicious, nutritious, hot meals for those in need, in a safe environment is what Malley and Von Flake do on Thursdays at Interfaith Dinner Bell at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 2624 Rockefeller Ave., in Everett.

Up to 60 people come to the family-friendly environment on Thursdays and share a hour or so of being together at the community dinner program.

Volunteers from faith groups in and around Everett and individual volunteers help to prepare and serve a nutritious hot dinner for those in need. Seniors and families are encouraged to stop by for a meal, but everyone is welcome.

When Malley isn’t the cook on Thursdays, Flake is. Even so, there is still a need for volunteers to cook, help serve and clean up. They can also grab a plate and get some food.

“We encourage those who come and volunteer to sit and eat,” Malley said.

The Interfaith Dinner Bell program is aided by a city of Everett Human Needs grant of $1,000. The money helps with food and other costs. Flake and others are also working with Volunteers of America on a coalition plan for the future to help more people receive hot nutritious dinners.

When the idea of a few churches getting together to create a soup kitchen or community kitchen came to light in 2003, Malley, a member of a United Methodist Church in Everett was ready to help out.

“There were 10 people,” that came to be fed, Malley said.

Two years ago the initial once-a-month feed grew to twice a month.

“People appreciate the meal and having a place to gather,” Malley said.

Now there is a meal every Thursday for those who need one and numbers have grown to 60 or more.

“Everybody should have enough to eat,” Malley said. “Not everybody has a kitchen.”

Christina Harper: 425-339-3491 or harper@heraldnet.com.