GATHER US IN Weekly Friendship Meals in Barberton continue to nourish

PHOTOS BY CHRISTINA McCUNE | BGNN

One of the largest groups of volunteers in the rotation for Friendship Meals offered each Tuesday at First Presbyterian Church is from St. Augustine Catholic Church.

Above, Karen Eskridge and Chris Christoff.

Mika Schenkenberger, 15, is working on earning her Eagle Scout rank and she regularly volunteers with other St. Augustine Church members for Friendship Meals.

Gary Christoff made eight meatloaves from scratch.

This new BGNN series in 2026 focuses on the many people in local communities who do good works for others – mostly behind the scenes. Read about some of the “good majority” of people who quietly make a difference in people’s lives. The Coalition of Concerned Christians has been serving a weekly meal to anyone in need – for 40 years. Groups of volunteers from eight area churches are involved in the rotation to prepare and serve weekly Friendship Meals 4:30-5:30 Tuesdays at First Presbyterian Church.

By CHRISTINA McCUNE
BGNN managing editor

BARBERTON  St. Augustine Catholic Church’s deviled eggs are heavenly.

And so are the volunteers who prepare and serve meals every Tuesday at First Presbyterian Church in Barberton.

A mouthwatering cooking aroma and quiet conversation and pleasant laughter greeted visitors Jan. 13 as they followed their noses and walked down the steps to the basement of First Presbyterian Church escaping a chilly windy day.

For the past 40 years, volunteers from area churches have provided a free community meal to those in need. Anyone is welcome to stop in 4:30-5:30 p.m. Tuesday at First Presbyterian Church, 636 W Park Ave. Eight churches are part of the Coalition of Concerned Christians who rotate as part of weekly Friendship Meals and the menu is different each week.
Some weeks, people are welcome to pop in and take a meal to go and other weeks they can sit down and enjoy piano music and even browse through clothing and other items given away. Volunteers hear stories regularly about how the weekly event has helped out those who visit.

Last week, volunteers were busy preparing a hearty meal in the kitchen and also put out clothing, rolls of toilet paper, socks and other items on tables that were donated by members of St. Augustine Catholic Church, including handmade hats and other outwear. Each dining table was covered elegantly with a table cloth, napkins and silverware.

Pies were at the end of one table along with chocolate chip cookies and little bowls with tempting pudding.

The main course of meatloaf made from scratch by Gary Christoff was beautifully basted and pierogies were getting ready to boil so they were freshly cooked right before guests arrived. Green beans, deviled eggs, and freshly cut fruit were also on the menu.

Christoff made eight of his delicious meatloaves, and nine dozen deviled eggs were made by other volunteers.

“This is fun,” Christoff said. “We don’t cook anything we wouldn’t put on our own table.”

Church members donate their time and ingredients and begin making and preparing some items at home and then the kitchen at First Presbyterian Church begins to bustle in the afternoon leading up to meal time.
Mike Moore, president of the Coalition of Concerned Citizens, said with a smile they’re called “heavenly” eggs instead of “deviled.” The volunteers are affiliated with local churches after all.

“Is this a friendship meal or what?” Moore said. “This is off the charts.”

St. Augustine Church also provides a meal on Christmas Day to anyone. This year, they served 130 people and had ham, cabbage rolls, noodles, mashed potatoes and gravy, garden salad and fruit.

About 20 volunteers tend to come from St. Augustine and the church donates funds toward ingredients for the meal such as meat for the meat loaf. First Presbyterian and Emanuel United Church of Christ in Doylestown also each have a larger group to help out, Moore said. Anyone who would like to help out by cooking or serving or donating items or funds toward meals, can email Mike Moore at [email protected].

Volunteers worked together well last week and as they were asked to gather in for a group photo as they were finishing up the prep work and getting ready for the dinner crowd, a few volunteers spontaneously began singing the well-known church hymn “Gather us in.”

At the Jan. 13 community meal, 60 people came through and 85 meals were served.

Typically, after the meal, volunteers eat together before they clean up.

“We sit down and we say a prayer and thank God for bringing all the people,” Moore said.