Church’s dinner program to receive $15,500 from WWC.

Church’s dinner program to receive $15,500 from WWC.

#WomenWhoCare

#CentenaryUnitedMethodistChurchCommunityDinners
 
PENTWATER – The 155-member Women Who Care (WWC) of Oceana County launched its eighth year Sept. 3.

WWC will have each member write a $100 personal check to Pentwater’s Centenary United Methodist Church’s Community Dinner program, which has served approximately 70,000 plates of food for the past 10 years.

The Community Dinner program stands to receive $15,500 from the collective support of Oceana’s Women Who Care members, whose $100 gifts made four times a year total $388,400 since the group held its first meeting in June of 2012.

At the Sept. 3 WWC meeting, member Karen St. Denis explained to other members how the community dinner idea started in 2009 as a program that serves free, hot meals in the church’s social hall to low income Oceana individuals and families. Today, the dinners attract a broader audience. About 150 people are served each week on average.

Attendees include seniors who don’t prepare a meal for themselves and look forward to the company at mealtime; area shut-ins whose meals are delivered to them; and residents of Communities Overcoming Violent Encounters, whose meals are delivered to COVE’s shelter in Ludington. Those enjoying the meals either leave whatever donation they wish, or come away appreciating the generosity of others. Volunteers putting on the meals come from various area churches and organizations.

WWC members also got an update Tuesday on how the Hart Community and Performing Arts Association is planning to use the support it received from the women at their last WWC meeting in June.

The Oceana women meet quarterly for an hour, learn about three worthy causes serving county residents, and choose one that everyone agrees to support with $100 personal checks. Networking and socializing follow for those who have the time to stay. Membership is open to any woman who wants to be involved in this unique, joint effort to support Oceana causes.

The next meeting is Dec. 3, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at location to be announced. For more information, contact Amy LaBarge at ‪313-268-2086‬  or visit facebook.com/womenwhocareofoceanacounty.