Free meal for Sheridan residents

A few members of the One Day Sheridan No Hunger committee meet at the library to make plans for the community meal. Pictured (left to right) are Kim Hollingsworth, Kathy Bell (seated), Emily Pearson and Connie Pearson. (Photo provided)

On Saturday, Oct. 21 the Sheridan Rotary Club, in cooperation with multiple other community agencies and churches, is coordinating a free meal to members of the Sheridan community. The meal will be served at the Shelter House in Community Park from noon to 4 p.m. Everyone in the Sheridan community is invited to enjoy roast pork loin, baked potato, green beans, roll with butter and a delicious dessert. Drinks will be provided, too. And out in the park, the kids can enjoy a bounce house, cotton candy and snow cones while they sing along to their favorite karaoke song.

Sheridan Rotarian Steve Martin is coordinating the meal this year. According to Martin, “It was all started four years ago by then Sheridan Rotary President Rev. VJ Stover as an effort to highlight the plight of world hunger and it proved so successful that first year that it has continued annually. Last year we served over 450 meals to community members and this year our goal is to reach 500.”

Hunger is not something tied just to third world nations or homeless people. Hunger occurs in affluent locations like Hamilton County and is perhaps more prevalent in rural places like Sheridan. Someone loses a job or the family’s breadwinner becomes ill or passes away and suddenly a family that was making ends meet finds itself having difficulty putting a meal on the table every day. Often the situation is only temporary, but people, especially children, need a square meal every day. The situation may resolve itself in a few days or weeks, but for those few days or weeks a family can really need some sort of food assistance.

Sheridan Rotary wants their community members to have at least one day when no one in the community needs to go hungry. While only a start to local, regional and world hunger needs, at least it is a start, and hopefully a reminder to all that hunger often occurs close to home. Join them for a good meal and casual conversation this Saturday. Best of all, it is all free.