Venice Episcopal Churches Offer Free Community Dinners Twice Weekly

Sally Flact and Paul Skulitz stand by food they prepared for the community dinner at Good Shephard Episcopal Church. Skulitz is the church’s volunteer chef who cooks the free dinner each week.

Ken and Katherine Kendall, volunteers at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, put the finishing touches on their chili dinner at a recent community dinner.

In Venice, two Episcopal churches have become familiar gathering places for those seeking nourishment and connection. “We Saved a Seat for You” is the motto of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, which offer free meals to anyone who needs them.

Good Shepherd Episcopal Church hosts dinners on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at 1115 Center Road. St. Mark’s Episcopal Church offers meals on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at 508 Riviera Street. Both events provide an opportunity for individuals to share a meal and engage in meaningful conversation.

Joseph Hudson, rector of Good Shepherd, explained that the dinners began as a way for widows to gather and share stories over food. Over time, the events evolved into a broader community outreach effort, offering fellowship and connection to those facing life’s challenges.

Hudson emphasized the importance of creating a space where people can come together, regardless of their circumstances. “We are available to everyone,” he said. “It is also important that we have this conversation over a free meal.”

Good Shepherd’s meals are prepared by volunteer chef Paul Skulitz, who plans the menu each week. The meals vary from chicken to meatloaf, pasta, meatballs, and lasagna. The cost of the meals is covered by private donations, and the church does not use its own funds for this purpose.

Skulitz described the dinners as a chance for people to enjoy a meal and socialize. “I feel that these dinners are like a night out in a restaurant to enjoy and to look forward to,” he said. The dinners attract a diverse group, including veterans, the elderly, the homeless, and anyone seeking fellowship.

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church serves between 70 and over 100 meals every other week. Associate Rector Lisa Hamilton noted that preparing and serving the dinners requires a team effort. “It takes a village every other week to prepare, serve and set up the community dinner,” she said.

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