Making lunch — a community effort

Sen. Judy Schwank and several students help Oley American Legion Post 878 prepare meals

Several members of the community recently spent a Saturday morning making dozens of lunches for Hope Rescue Mission of Reading.

On Saturday, March 11, Sen. Judy Schwank and several Exeter students joined members of Oley American Legion Post 878 to prepare more than 70 bagged lunches.

Legion member Bill Lutz says the club does every second Saturday of every month, a tradition which began back in January of 2013.

“Twice a year, we usually give them something extra like these turkeys,” said Lutz, motioning to the pile of frozen turkeys and canned vegetables ready for transport. The lunches will be distributed at Hope Rescue Mission, a place of refuge for homeless men in Berks County.

“We make 72 lunches up every month.” The lunches include a lunch meat or peanut butter and jelly sandwich, plus a cup of soup, an apple, a bag with cookies and pretzels, a bottle of water. “It’s a real nice lunch.”

He said this month they had a larger than average group participate, including Sen. Schwank.

“I had a free Saturday morning. It’s a great way to feel like you’re giving back in some way. It’s the camaraderie. It’s so much fun,” said Schwank. “I enjoy talking with the gentlemen. I feel like I’m part of the community by being here.”

The Exeter students, all in the eighth grade and members of the basketball team, decided to come out as a way to help the local community.

Lutz says anyone wanting to donate to this send either a grocery store gift cards or money to Oley American Legion Post 878 P.O. Box 200, Oley, 19547.

REBECCA BLANCHARD — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Sen. Judy Schwank with Bill Lutz, member of the Oley American Legion Post 878, making lunches for Hope Rescue Mission of Reading.

PHOTOS BY REBECCA BLANCHARD — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA On Saturday, March 11, several members of the community joined members of Oley American Legion Post 878 to prepare more than 70 bagged lunches for Hope Rescue Mission of Reading.

Above, Sen. Judy Schwank joined Bill Lutz and the Oley American Legion Post 878 to make lunches for Hope Rescue Mission of Reading. Left, Legion member Bill Lutz unloads the bread for sandwich making.

Several eighth-grade Exeter students came out to help the Legion members make the bagged lunches.

The scene as volunteers prepare the lunches and other food items for transport to Hope Rescue Mission.

In addition to the lunches, the group is also donating turkeys and vegetables.

Members of Oley American Legion Post 878 prepare lunches for donation.