Noah Sigel, holding a chain of things to be thankful for.
Most free meals come with just that—a meal. The Unitarian Church of Harrisburg is dispensing more than just chow these days. At their Common Ground Café at 1508 Market St., members of the Allison Hill community are treated to a restaurant-style breakfast with a side of conversation.
The Unitarian Church bought its Allison Hill church in 2010 from the Shared Ministries Church, which had started the breakfasts in a buffet style. With a larger community and more money, the church transformed the bi-weekly Saturday morning breakfasts into the Common Ground Café (Shared Ministries still funds every second breakfast and provides money for bus vouchers for diners, as well).
Wishing to create a respectful community focused on social action, not charity, the Café serves residents in a traditional and respectful way.
“They get a server just like everyone else would if they were going to Cracker Barrel,” said Clay Lambert, director of the Café since its inception three years ago. “With an affluent church community like ours in such close proximity to such a poor area, it makes no sense for us not to be as involved as possible.”
“In the buffet line, people [used to] just shuffle in line. They didn’t talk to each other. They ate and they left,” said Brian Kahler, a volunteer for four years and church-goer for 23 years. “We tried to apply the Golden Rule: How would you like to be treated if you came to a place like this for breakfast?”
Now, the vibrant community entertains about 350 attendees per breakfast with 20 to 25 volunteers from the Unitarian Church and elsewhere. The church provides funding for the majority of the operational costs and accepts donations of goods (recently, a new stove, toaster and microwave) and services. The Common Ground Café partners with other organizations to provide services to its community, such as a free eye care clinic, STD and diabetes testing, heart screening, blood pressure monitoring and children/adult reading programs.
Nina, an attendee for three years, describes the community as “a multicultural family.” She got her current job because the Common Ground Café gave her a bus voucher to help her get to her interview. Her glasses were from a free eye care clinic at the church.
“They do more for the community than anybody,” she said. “Even though you’re in need, they make you feel like you’re somebody. They uplift you. If you’re missing, they wonder. If you’re in the hospital, they visit. They marry people and have funerals. They open their doors.”
Added Lambert: “I don’t think people are necessarily coming for the food. They come to talk to one another, enjoy each other. Almost all of [the attendees] live in a home of one form or another. They could find another breakfast. It’s more about trying to build a sense of community around the church and trying to bring the members of the church into the [Allison Hill] community as well.”
A woman who chose to go by Queen for this article has been coming to the Saturday morning breakfasts for about three years—never missing a day.
“It’s like family here,” she said. “They take good care of me, and I take good care of them, too.”
A volunteer interrupted our conversation to give Queen pictures she had gotten developed. Queen started a bulletin board of pictures last year. It’s now grown to three boards of the “family” photos.
Katie, Queen’s friend eating breakfast next to her, has been coming to the breakfasts for about three years.
“When I first came, I didn’t know nobody. The second time, it’s like I knew people forever,” she said.
Then she continued, “I’m shy. When I first meet someone, I’m shy.”
The table came alive with shouts of “liar!” led by Queen.
“That ain’t quiet! I’m scared of her quiet voice,” said a gentleman at the table.
Queen taps me on the shoulder and says with a laugh, “Now you see why we come.”
The Common Ground Café is located at 1508 Market St., Harrisburg, and is open 9 to 11 a.m. every second and last Saturday of the month. Those interested in volunteering or donating services and goods should contact Clay Lambert at commongroundbreakfast@gmail.com. More information can be found on their Facebook page or at www.harrisburguu.org.
