By Leslie Wittman
A gentle hum of friendly conversation filled the air at Thursday’s Bedford Community Table dinner on May 30. It was a welcoming environment and the guests, from toddlers to senior citizens, thoroughly enjoyed the final dinner of the school year.
On this evening, dinner was prepared by Shirley Fan-Chan and Mary Ellen Dunstan. The two have been cooking dinners together for the Community Table two or three times a year for six years. “It’s fun, we love it. There is need everywhere, no matter where you live, even in the town of Bedford,” said Fan-Chan.
The Bedford Community Table and Pantry was started in 1991 by Peter Grey and his wife Kathy. After participating in the Walk for Hunger with his young children for many years, Grey decided in 1989 it was time to do something closer to home. He attended a conversation the town was having about whether Bedford needed a food pantry and, after listening to a lot of talk, Grey volunteered to start one. He held the first community dinner on September 17, 1991, cooking the meal himself along with his wife and two or three other people. This crew continued to cook weekly dinners for four and half years, only taking a break each August. Feeling a little burnt out, Grey finally sent a letter to all the churches asking if they would like to help. First Parish Church was the first to come on board but others soon followed.
Nowadays, volunteers come from groups such as First Parish, St. Michaels, First Church of Christ, St. Paul’s, Lutheran Church of the Savior, the Bedford Jewish Community, the Bedford Social Club, Boy Scout Troop 114 moms, Middlesex Community College, Acme Packet, Progress Software, Bedford High School, and the Girl Scouts, as well as individuals, making for a smooth operation. Volunteers act as meal planners/shoppers/cooks, servers, and clean-up crews.
Riya Malrani is a Bedford High School student who volunteered as a server almost every week this school year. “Serving the elderly population is the best volunteer work I can do and this is a very friendly environment,” said Malrani.
Linda Hursh has been working as a server once a week for thirteen years. “I enjoy the people. This has a wonderful purpose and we serve a need,” said Hursh. In fact, the need is clear because attendance at the dinners has grown this year to about 75 guests per week.
Dinner Volunteers Coordinator Cheryl Johnston said that new volunteers for the Community Table are always needed and appreciated. “People can form a dinner team or sign up to serve or clean up. They can work one dinner a year or more regularly,” Johnston said.
Interested volunteers can also contact one of the churches or other organizations to join an existing crew. Johnston feels that Peter Grey is inspirational and she enjoys being part of an organization he has built. “This is a vehicle to reach people and make their lives better,” Johnston said.
Bedford Community Table dinners will resume on Thursday, September 12, and are held from 5-6 pm.
To learn more about the Bedford Community Table and Food Pantry, volunteer, or make a donation, visit www.bedfordfoodpantry.org.
The Citizen is grateful to Leslie Wittman for the images in this story.
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