Presbyterian Church of Jackson Hole Offers Weekly Free Community Dinners

Ben Pascal, senior pastor at Presbyterian Church of Jackson Hole, welcomed attendees on Feb. 19 for the church’s weekly free community dinner, reading from his phone as guests arrived.

Volunteers Dorothy Neckels, Claudia Schrotz, and Sue Unruh discussed preparing the salad while chef Chas Baki added spices to the blender in preparation for the weekly free community dinners. All are volunteers who contribute to the effort.

Chef Chas Baki checked on the stove as volunteers Michael Schrotz, Randy Reedy, Robyn Reedy, Sue Unruh, and Claudia Schrotz sliced and arranged bread to be shared. The kitchen buzzed with activity as the evening meal was prepared.

Every Wednesday from September to May, volunteers at the Presbyterian Church of Jackson Hole prepare for the community dinners in the church kitchen and Hayden Hall. On Feb. 19, 13 tables were set up around the carpeted basketball gym, with hoops towering over guests.

Michael Schrotz, Randy Reedy, and others arrived early to organize the room, while volunteer chef Chas Baki prepared food in the back. The event has been a regular part of the community for more than 20 years, according to senior pastor Reverend Ben Pascal.

Although the specific history of the event is unclear, Pascal said it began during the 2008 recession when the church decided to help those struggling with food insecurity. The weekly dinner, which runs from 6 to 7 p.m., has since become a community staple.

Churchgoers, neighbors, and even people unaffiliated with the church attend the dinners. Before the recession, the Presbyterian Church held similar dinners for its congregation, including Bible study and classes. Now, the event serves as an outreach to the broader community.

For those who don’t know each other, cards on each table offer ice breaker conversation starters, such as “What’s an important part of love to you?” or “How did you spend your holiday weekend?”

“I think that our congregation is really proud of having the dinner because they see it as a blessing to the community,” Pascal said. “Whoever wants to eat or come and have conversation and meet people, we just see it as a local mission project.”

On this particular Wednesday evening, guests started filling in around 6 p.m. and found tables. “Oh, you can sit with us,” one woman said to another. Meanwhile, Baki and the other volunteers cut bread, mixed salad, and scrubbed dishes. Soon, Schrotz and Reedy brought out the meal, and a line formed.

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