Coalition of Concerned Christians – Serving meals and love for 40 years

Anita Buskey is one of the founding members of the coalition that has offered a free weekly meal in Barberton since 1985.

Mike Moore, president of the Coalition of Concerned Christians, speaks at the 40th anniversary celebration of the organization last month.

Ralph Conrad, treasurer, and crew chief for Prince of Peace Church, provided a short history of the coalition.

Barberton Mayor William Judge stopped by to read a proclamation recognizing the group’s milestone and decades of serving those in need. 

STORY AND PHOTOS By CHRISTINA McCUNE
BGNN managing editor

BARBERTON  Commonly called “the Barberton soup kitchen,” the community meal provided every Tuesday at First Presbyterian Church of Barberton is much more than that.

Recently renamed to Friendship Meals, the event has come a long way from its first meal 40 years ago of vegetable beef soup with noodles, hot corn bread, sliced peaches, cake and coffee.

Depending upon which church is taking care of that week’s meals, people may be picking up anything from ham and cheese sandwiches to meatloaf and pierogies, and they may be leaving with ice cream and root beer floats in hand.

Volunteers from many area churches serve free nutritious meals to those in need – and they offer generous helpings of joy and kindness on the side.

On hot days, cold days, rainy and snowy days and even during the COVID-19 pandemic – people struggling to make ends meet have been able to count on stopping in 4:30-5:30 p.m. every Tuesday at 636 W Park Ave. to be greeted by a smiling face, and leave with a filling meal.

Many different people have visited the soup kitchen since 1985. Each person has a unique story and background and they all have a variety of reasons for being there. It doesn’t matter. There’s no judgment. Everyone is welcome. But just like 40 years ago, when a group of concerned individuals began working together to help those less fortunate have one less thing to worry about each week – the need has remained the same today.

A crew of volunteers from local churches rotate each week to bring food and serve the meals.
Last month, members of those church crews and their families were invited to a potluck picnic during a pleasant evening at Lake Dorothy to celebrate the Coalition of Concerned Christians’ 40th anniversary of serving the community.

Because they come from different churches and rotate each week at First Presbyterian, it’s rare for all of them to be together in one place.

Barberton Mayor William Judge stopped by to read a proclamation recognizing the group’s milestone and decades of serving those in need. Mike Moore, president of the Coalition of Concerned Christians, and crew chief for St. Augustine Catholic Church, welcomed everyone to the celebration. Deacon Robin Adair led the prayer before the meal and also shared about when a crew from St. Augustine began helping at the soup kitchen and how his family was involved. The first four churches that began rotating were Lakeview Methodist, First Presbyterian, St. Andrew’s Episcopal and St. Cyril and Methodius. More than a dozen churches have been part of the rotation over the years. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the numbers have dwindled slightly. Eight churches are in the rotation now and they have stepped up in a big way.

Some of the same volunteers have been serving meals for years. One of the women who started it all four decades ago was in attendance at the September celebration.

Ralph Conrad, treasurer, and crew chief for Prince of Peace Church, provided a short history of the coalition. In 1984, employment was down and approximately 67% of students at Barberton City Schools were eligible for free or reduced meals, he said.

“Too many people were finding too much month at the end of their money,” Conrad said addressing the group.

At the end of that year, Anita Buskey, a licensed practical nurse who was the director of the day care at Lakeview Methodist Church, gathered some friends: Marian Franks, Martha Custer and Louise Baker. A man had come into the church and said he hadn’t eaten for several days. The church had an arrangement with the Coffee Pot downtown for vouchers to be given to those who stopped in and asked for food. He was given a voucher and left.

But a question lingered, Conrad said: “Where do the homeless and the poor in Barberton go for food?”

At that time, there was no agency in the area where people in need could go to find a hot meal.
The women began discussing how they could bring some of the churches together to create a soup kitchen. Several women from the Barberton Peace Group also became interested in the project. They all met at Lakeview to discuss the plan and put that plan into action.

“On March 19, 1985 with a leap of faith the first meal was served,” Conrad said to the group. “That meal consisted of vegetable beef soup with noodles, hot corn bread, sliced peaches, cake and lots of coffee. They served about 20 people. Those 20 were encouraged to tell their friends and other people about the hot meal that would be served every Tuesday.

The Coalition of Concerned Christians is now just one of several organizations in the Barberton and Norton and surrounding areas who help those in need. Donations and grants help to keep the soup kitchen going.

“The churches involved with the coalition truly have big hearts and enjoy serving those less fortunate in the Barberton area,” Conrad continued in his presentation to the group. “There’s all kinds of hunger. Loneliness is also a form of hunger. Clients need each other as much as they need us. If we can feed them and give them good nutritious meals as well as nurture for their spirits then we in our own small world of Barberton have accomplished a very good thing.”

Conrad introduced Buskey for establishing the coalition. She echoed Conrad’s sentiments and thanked the churches and volunteers for their countless hours to make the soup kitchen possible and keep it running.

“It’s just so important … our little way of making peace in this world,” she said.

Buskey said she remembered 40 years ago when she attended church services she wondered if everyone in the pews had food to eat. She said some people cover it up. And some people might be doing well one day and the next suddenly find themselves struggling.

Moore said the weekly Friendship Meals are not only beneficial for people to leave with a meal but they can share some of the problems they’re facing and learn about other resources that can help them.

The number of people who come by during the hour to pick up food is higher than the original 20.The number varies and maybe as low as 60 to more than 100.

Other officers, board members and crew chiefs are Niki Gottwalt, secretary, crew chief for First Presbyterian Church; Ernie Lyons, board member, crew chief for Emanuel United Church of Christ in Doylestown; Ann Hutchison, board member, crew chief for First Baptist Church; Terri Trump, board member, crew chief for S.W. Church of Christ; Chuck Weinsheimer, board member, S.W. Church of Christ; Becky Farcas, board member, crew chief for St. Andrew’s Catholic Church Norton; and Gib Radanof, board member, crew chief for St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church.

Friendship Meals are primarily funded thanks to donations. Some churches would welcome volunteers during their rotation week while some churches may have enough volunteers. Call Moore at 330-618-0378 for more info.

Moore has many touching stories to share about his weeks serving meals. One week, he recalls in great detail how his wife had root beer floats for people who came by. Moore said it’s not uncommon for his wife to plan a big menu when it’s their church’s turn such as meatloaf, pierogies, garden salad, fruit salad and an ice cream bar. Moore recalls a young boy coming up to them and telling them: “That’s the best root beer float I ever had in my life!” Moore said the little boy’s mother confided in the volunteers: “That’s the only root beer float he’s ever had in his life.”

Moore said another little girl who was being fed one week was excited to show off her new shoes and she also wanted to help. She eagerly ran up the stairs to deliver meals to people who may have had a difficult time navigating the steps at the church.

Not many children come through the line but seeing them fed a nutritious meal warms volunteers’ hearts, Moore said.

“We welcome everybody,” Moore said. “No one is judged and everybody’s welcome.”