Lunch at The Rez

At a clergy conference around 2014, the Rev. Mike Caines got some advice that changed his church’s life.

“Reggie MacNeill was the speaker. He said Christianity is a street movement. We need to be out in the community.
“He suggested we go to the local school, and ask the principal, ‘what can we do for you?’

“So I did.”

He went off to Grand Bay Primary and learned that the principal and her husband cooked a Christmas meal for the students, but the couple was getting older and she would soon be retired.

So that Christmas, the children were bussed down to The Church of the Resurrection in Grand Bay-Westfield, where they enjoyed a turkey dinner.

Mike developed a puppet show to entertain the kids, and there were lots of Christmas songs sung.

“They loved that as much as the meal,” said Mike.

Mike said grace and asked God to bless the children, and they loved that too, he said.

The word spread, and soon, Morna Heights school wanted in. Then the question of a spring meal surfaced, so the parish put on two meals at Christmas and two near Easter.

The meals have evolved through the 10 years, with one school closed, another added, the inclusion of the teaching and support staff and bus drivers, and the addition of Foodland grocery staff, town council and RCMP officers as volunteers.

“So now it’s a big team effort, with community support,” said Mike. “Even the parents come and serve.”

Mike has seen the value of these lunches for an entire decade.

“I see kids in the community who know my name because of these lunches,” he said. “The kids in Grade 5 are quite sad. They are very aware that it’s the last one for them.

“The ethos is the kids all get a meal, but the teachers are off to the side at fancy tables and they get a special dessert. The staff feels appreciated.”

MENU CHANGE
The evolution of the lunches has also meant a change in the menu.

“We found a lot of waste with the turkey dinner,” said Paula Noonan, the chef behind this effort. “We found the kids love ham and homemade macaroni and cheese, so that’s what we give them.”

She also found they enjoy cucumbers and mini croissants, so she added them.

But for the adults in the room, it’s a full turkey dinner at Christmas and a ham dinner at Easter. Paula goes out of her way to make their dinner special, with apple crisp or carrot cake for dessert. The kids get, and love, ice cream instead.

Each dinner feeds about 150 people — students, adults, and volunteers.

“It’s turned into a real nice thing,” said Paula. “The kids are excited to come, and it’s nice to see the church full of kids.”

It’s a lot of work, “but once the children are here, it’s such a blessing,” said Paula.

Sometimes in return, the kids sing a thank you song, or follow up with thank you cards.

One of the more immediate outcomes is a sanctuary filled with the laughing voices of children. One of the long-term outcomes is that the kids have a positive experience in a church.

“Many know the Sunrise Play Park, but few have been on the other side, so they’re getting to know our church,” said Mike.

The parish’s core values include children as a priority, and the lunches demonstrate that commitment.

“It’s at the centre of who we are and what we want to be,” said Mike. “This is one of the best things we do to connect with the community. You just can’t beat it.”

PHOTO CAPTIONS:
1.  "Zack" and the Rev. Mike Caines entertain the students during their seasonal lunches at The Church of the Resurrection.
2.  Staff from Foodland have been helping serve for several years.
3.  Volunteers serve the meal, which includes the much-loved homemade macaroni and cheese for the students.
4.  The volunteers enjoy a well-deserved dinner after the main meal is done and the children have returned to school. 
Submitted photos