St. Louis Park Woman Helps Feed the Masses

On a typical Wednesday night, Kathy Pickard is in the kitchen preparing one big meal. She’s not, however, planning a family get-together at her house—she's planning a community meal for more than 150 people at her church, Westwood Lutheran.

With her own recipes and a crew of about a dozen volunteers, the group serves anyone in the community that wants to come.

“Everyone is invited,” Pickard said. “Some people come for the company, others come because a free meal each week really helps them out.”

The community meal started in the summer of 2010, with the intent of taking some of the stress off the local food shelf, .

“At that time we were talking with one of our pastors and we wanted to figure out a way to help an organization that does so much in our community,” Pickard said. “From that conversation, the community meal was born.”

Since its inception, the meal has been held at several different places, but has found a permanent home inside Westwood Lutheran Church every Wednesday.  The meal started with about 40 guests and in a matter of months had quadrupled in size.

“What’s great about this meal is there is no stigma attached—it’s really a mixed group of people that all socialize really well together,” Pickard said as she started cleaning up the kitchen after this week’s meal. As she tidies the countertops, people are still coming through the line for dinner, getting a heaping spoonful of chicken casserole, salad, fruit and dessert.

With a background in restaurant and hotel management, Pickard says she feels comfortable in this role and estimates she spends about eight to 10 hours each week coordinating the event. She does this in addition to working part time at Macy’s, volunteering at STEP and participating in the church's hand bell choir.

“I feel really good about this, and I’m fortunate enough to have the time to offer,” she said.

Cheryl Stark, Kathy’s right-hand woman at the community meal, says Pickard is a dedicated leader.

“She is so organized and really knows how to motivate a group,” Stark said. “We couldn’t do it without her.”

Both women have heard positive feedback from the community about the meal, and plan to continue it indefinitely.