Feb 22 2008
Stone Soup for Dinner
I am sure many of you have read the children’s story called “Stone Soup” and are wondering what on earth that has to do with being kind. I don’t know about anywhere else in the country, but here in Northern NY, it means a lot about random kindness.
Several local churches have started having what they call Stone Soup dinners. These dinners are free to anyone and everyone. It makes no difference if you have no money or if you are a millionaire just looking for someone to have dinner with while enjoying their company.
The dinners seem to be a hit and due to the church making it known that this isn’t simply a charity event, they seem to be bringing the communities closer. The dinners are anything from a full turkey dinner to meatloaf dinner to a pancake dinner depending on the week.
I think that organized religion should do more things like this and open their doors to everyone for something so heartwarming. The prices of everything are going up and people in the world are feeling more and more isolated, so what a great thing this concept could turn out to be for everyone. If you get a chance in your area, pass it on.
After all, the world would be a better place if we all found just a little more kindness.
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this is a terrific idea. I am going to mention it to my church. What a great way to get the church and community to meet each other! and to be of help to people in need. Thanks for the article.
Good Day Karen,
I found this blog from Gathers Tom M. I like it. I will be back. ( I hope.)
ChickJ
I really enjoyed this article. Thank you for sharing it with me!
This a wonderful idea to bring folks together.
What a great idea! I think it would be a wonderful outreach for any church! I’m going to forward this post to ‘the powers that be’ at my church.
We do a special thing at Thanksgiving time. A group of us women of various religious believes, get together to cook meals for 25 needy families. We do not take applications nor do the families know where the dinner comes from. We just keep our ears open all year long. We cook for the families who have no power or not enough food. We prepare the entire meal from the turkey to the pumpkin pie.
We have men deliver the food to the families on Thanksgiving eve. They know that they are not to tell where it comes from.
It is amazing the letters to the Editor of our local paper receives after these families have enjoyed a hot Thanksgiving dinner for their family. These families would not have a Thanksgiving dinner otherwise.
I know that just once a year is not much but it is something. The kids can go to school and talk about their Thanksgiving dinner just like all the other kids.
It works for us.
I’ve had a couple of Stone Soup parties! I plan what the finished dish will be (stew and ciappino are the favorites!). In the invitation, I request each invitee to phone me with their RSVP and I provide them with a food item to bring, i.e., two carrots, an onion, a stalk of celery, etc. I provide the meat or seafood and rent a huge pot for cooking. We build a fire in the firepit and voila!, dinner for many. It’s great fun!