New Free Summer Picnic Event Launched By Wallingford Community Dinners

WALLINGFORD, CT — Wallingford Community Dinners, Inc. will host its first-ever community picnic later this month.

The free picnic lunch will take place from 12 noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 25 at First Congregational Church at 23 South Main Street in Wallingford. Lunches are also available for delivery.

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“Wallingford Community Dinners, Inc. has always been about bringing people together around a meal,” said Amy Tierney, social media manager and outreach coordinator for Wallingford Community Dinners, Inc. “While we're best known for our Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, we know that hunger and loneliness don't take a holiday. The idea for the picnic came from wanting to stay connected with our neighbors throughout the year and offer another opportunity for people to enjoy a good meal, friendly conversation, and a sense of community.”

The group also introduced its first pasta dinner event this past February.

“The community picnic is our second event outside of our traditional holiday dinners, following our pasta dinner in February,” Tierney said. “Both events grew out of a simple idea: if there's a need, we'd like to be there.

“We're excited to see how the picnic goes. We will continue looking for ways to serve the community, and we will explore new opportunities as we are able.”

Tierney said organizing a new event has been exciting.

“We have a wonderful group of volunteers who have been planning the picnic,” she said. “We want to spread the word so the community knows this is another way we're bringing neighbors together outside of our traditional holiday dinners.”

Tierney said the group’s holiday dinners “typically bring together 100 to 120 volunteers, which really shows how much this community cares.”

“Since the picnic is a smaller event, we've had a dedicated planning team working behind the scenes,” she said. “We would love to have more volunteers join us. Whether it's helping prepare food, serve guests, assist with setup or cleanup, every volunteer makes a difference.”

Anyone interested in volunteering can sign up here.

Meals for pick-up or delivery require pre-registration, and the deadline to reserve a lunch is Tuesday, July 21.

To pre-register for delivery or to pick up a meal, call 203-514-8883 or email WallingfordCommunityDinners@gmail.com.

“This picnic is for anyone who could use a good meal or who wants to spend some time with others,” Tierney said. “We want everyone who joins us to feel welcome, whether they're staying to eat with us, picking up a meal, or having one delivered. It's really about bringing people together and making everyone feel welcome. That's what Wallingford Community Dinners, Inc. has always been about.”