Salem Expands 'Meet and Eat' Meals, Engagement Program

SALEM, MA — When the Salem "Meet and Eat" free dinner program was launched in 2018 it was designed as a way for Witch City residents to both enjoy a wholesome meal and socialize and get to know their neighbors.

At its height, up to 120 people would gather each week at the Saltonstall School.

While the COVID-19 health crisis forced the program to be altered, it is now expanded to a second monthly date at the Salem Community Life Center throughout the year. Dinners are also served at the Saltonstal School during the school year and at the Maritime Park in July and August.

Meals are served from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Saltonstall School on the second Wednesday of each month. Dinners at the Community Life Center will be held at the same time on the fourth Thursday of the month. The Maritime Center events take the place of the Saltonstall events during the summer months.

Those attending can dine in person or take the meals home. The to-go option was introduced during the coronavirus health crisis. Those who dine on-site are encouraged to mingle, and meet new people and will be eligible for raffles for gift cards to Market Basket and the Hawthorne Hotel.

The Hawthorne Hotel provides volunteers, desserts as well as gift cards for the events.

The dinners are both a way to address food insecurity and encourage community engagement.

Dinners are prepared from scratch by Root's alumni kitchen team and feature fresh produce and ingredients from local farm partners.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)