The High School Lunch Ministry Spreading the Love of Christ, One Home-Cooked Meal at a Time
W
ith a new school year upon us, the High School Lunch Ministry team is getting geared up for another year of delicious home-cooked meals. What started out years ago as a modest endeavor for a handful of teens has grown into a thriving ministry, feeding anywhere from 75-115 high school youth each week throughout the academic year. “Our attendees are 75-percent non-Catholic and the school kids call it the ‘Catholic lunch,’” says Director of Youth Ministry Ashleigh Martin. “A group of moms started it as a way for kids to gather together instead of having to spend money every day of the week on lunch. We provide them with a home-cooked meal and a safe place to come together.” Lunches are served to any Stillwater High School student on Fridays from roughly noon-1 p.m. at either the gym or Parish Youth Center. The meals are 100-percent free and always homemade, varying from Mexican food, Lenten soups, Thanksgiving feasts, or the popular breakfast for lunch. And though the primary goal is simply to feed the youth, Ashleigh says there is a secondary element of evangelization, as well. “I think one of our main goals is that the kids will always know that the Catholic Church is a safe place — that they remember that we were kind, we fed them, and they were loved when they came to the Catholic Church,” Ashleigh says. “Hopefully that sticks with them when they go off to college which always has a Newman Center.”
High school youth gather for their weekly lunch.
By offering food, sharing a smile, and providing a listening ear, Ashleigh and her team of faithful volunteers hope to share the love of Christ with the youth of our community. Yet, to keep doing this effectively, more volunteers are needed. “It’s just a great opportunity to serve and live out stewardship,” Ashleigh says. “We are definitely looking for people who want to help serve these kids. This is my fifth-going-on-sixth year of doing this, and we’ve pretty much had the same group of moms doing this the entire time. So having some new volunteers would be amazing. It’s a great way to feed and care for these kids who are obviously looking for something.”
If you are interested in joining the ministry’s team of cooks, please contact Ashleigh Martin at ashleigh@sfxstillwater.org.
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