Community Impact

Feeding Ministries

If you mention St. James in the greater community, you often get the response, “Aren’t you the church that feeds the homeless? What a great ministry that is!” The St. James Lunch Program has been operating since 1983. At the time, a group of Parishioners noticed that there were no free community meals available for the needy and homeless on the days when the Salvation Army was closed. When the Rector was asked, he advised, “You realize that you can’t stop until there are no longer hungry people to feed.” The kitchen began serving lunches on weekends and holidays. 39 years later, there are still hungry neighbors to feed. The program has grown to be a collaborative ministry involving 22 other churches and organizations providing hot meals two afternoons and two evenings per week and on all national holidays, feeding more than 70 clients at each meal. In 2012, the parish received its second Jubilee Center designation from the National Episcopal Church Meal Program.

The Feeding Ministry is the heart of this church. It answers the call Jesus made to care for others less fortunate; “As you did to the least of these, you did to me!” (Matthew 25:40) Our parishioners participate in a variety of ways. Many volunteer their time as part of our two feeding teams, as a member of the executive board, by making donations of food and/or money, or becoming part of the food prep team. Through this ministry, St. James has become a beacon of light for the needy in our community; a safe place to have a hot meal — and a respite from the grind of “living on the streets.” Our diners know that they will be treated with dignity and be nourished in body as well as in spirit.

The COVID pandemic was devastating to the Feeding Ministry. However, we continued to provide meals on a take-out basis. This model made it difficult to connect on a personal level with our neighbors, and severed our ability to provide health and social care services to our clients. Our collaboration with both Signature Health and the Lake County General Health District for services continues to be a priority.