Church launches partnership to help feed city’s neediest

MIDDLETOWN — Just days before the pandemic closed down the state of Connecticut, First Church of Christ in Middletown approved a new outreach plan focusing in part on community food insecurity.

As people moved into life under quarantine, First Church senior pastor, the Rev. Julia Burkey, said in a prepared statement: “We realized that COVID-19 was amplifying the existing disparities in society and disproportionately impacting the people who were already marginalized.

“We saw an emerging new need for food support, particularly on Sundays when the soup kitchen was unable to be open, and we also saw that our neighborhood restaurants were also suffering,” she added. “We wondered if our outreach funds and some volunteer organizational work could help connect restaurants with the people most at risk.”

Community leaders were excited by the idea and came forward to help, the release added. Bryan Swan, president of the St. Vincent de Paul Middletown Board of Directors, connected the church with the residents of two local shelters, the Eddy Shelter and Middlesex YMCA.

Chu Ngo, owner of Lan

Chi Viatnamese restaurant, reached out to eateries on Main Street, asking if each would be able to make meals for one Sunday, Burkey said.

The response was overwhelmingly positive. Each Sunday, a local restaurant prepares 80 grab-and-go lunches, and delivers them to the two shelters. First Church of Middletown is providing the funding.

In addition, church and business community members agreed to support the restaurant of the week with their patronage. Many have signed on to the effort through Aug. 9, and the church expects to continue to schedule lunches for as long as needed, it said.

Those interested in supporting this effort can call 860-346-6657 or email FirstChurchUCC@sbcglobal.net. Financial support can be sent to First Church at 190 Court St., Middletown, CT 06457. They are asked to reference “Sunday lunch” in the memo line.

First Church is celebrating over 350 years in Middletown, with a contemporary faith, a diverse and open community of people committed to inclusiveness, grounded in worship, learning and outreach and committed to putting our faith into action as a caring presence in Middletown and beyond, according to the website.