Allied Christians of Tioga provide meals and fellowship

Allied Christians of Tioga provide meals and fellowshipFrom left, Autumn, Georganna, Kayla and Larissa Hankey, youth from St. Paul's Episcopal Church, volunteered to help serve a Thanksgiving dinner hosted by Allied Christians of Tioga (ACT) on Nov. 9 at the Owego United Methodist Church. ACT is a coalition of ten area churches, and where volunteers serve meals to the community each Thursday. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)  
Allied Christians of Tioga provide meals and fellowship

From left, Autumn, Georganna, Kayla and Larissa Hankey, youth from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, volunteered to help serve a Thanksgiving dinner hosted by Allied Christians of Tioga (ACT) on Nov. 9 at the Owego United Methodist Church. ACT is a coalition of ten area churches, and where volunteers serve meals to the community each Thursday. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)

The dining room at the Owego United Methodist Church was nearly full on Nov. 9 for a Thanksgiving dinner hosted by the Allied Christians of Tioga (ACT).

ACT is a coalition of ten area churches that provide a free meal and fellowship each Thursday at the Owego United Methodist Church, located at 261 Main St.

Members of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church were on hand to prepare and serve the Thanksgiving dinner, while the Gospel Chapel provided desserts.

Ruth Harders, coordinator for the Thursday evening meals, commented, “The meal is open for anyone in need or just looking to spend a little time with others.”

Harders explained that individuals or families who attend sometimes just like to stop in for the companionship, or some need to stretch their budget, while others regularly come each Thursday.

“Everyone who comes in gets a dinner,” Harders said, adding that no questions are asked, and, “It’s become like home to a lot of people.”

As many as 3,200 people come through the doors every year. The ACT organization, a non-profit, has been supporting the community for 37 years, and was previously known as the Tioga County Council of Churches.

ACT receives food goods and/or support from the Food Bank of the Southern Tier, Tioga Opportunities, the ACT churches and other donations, and is a partner agency of the Tioga United Way.   

Jeff Patricia, ACT Chairman of the Board, shared, “We look to secure grants whenever we can, too,” and regarding the meals served every week, he said, “It’s the volunteers that make it happen.”

Patricia explained that the Methodist Church has shown commitment by keeping their doors open every Thursday, and even after experiencing difficult times. He pointed to a piece of yellow tape around a post in the dining room, and near the ceiling, which is a reminder of how deep the flood water reached in 2011. The church also experienced flooding in 2006.

When the Methodist Church is unable to accommodate the meals, another church location is arranged. For example, the Thursday meal was recently served at the First Presbyterian Union Church.

Each week health and nutrition education and counseling is provided during a social hour prior to the meal service, among other special topics or activities.

The ACT social hour is scheduled each Thursday at the Owego United Methodist Church from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., with dinner served at 6 p.m.   

1 Comment on "Allied Christians of Tioga provide meals and fellowship"

  1. Mark hawthorne | November 24, 2017 at 5:14 pm | Reply

    It would be nice if we was allowed to be able to take leftovers home every week like we used too…

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