May 4, 2022 — The Free Lunch program at the Florence United Methodist Church has been in operation for 25 years. Traditionally, anyone could come to the church’s fellowship hall for a free lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Everyone was welcome, regardless of need. Then came COVID and Free Lunch had to suspend in-person dining. The program has been giving out Subway vouchers for lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays through the pandemic. 

With the pandemic abating (organizers hope), Free Lunch is once again launching in-person dining. The decision was made to have a “soft” opening and only open for lunch on Tuesdays at first. Subway tickets will still be available on Thursdays. 

The dining-in lunch will be every Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Florence United Methodist Church (the yellow one), 333 Kingwood St. in Florence.

Hopefully, Free Lunch will soon be open for in-person dining on Thursdays as well but as yet no date has been set for Thursday’s reopening. 

Free Lunch owes a debt of gratitude to many people who made reopening possible. First to Western Lane Community Foundation, who provided a generous grant to purchase equipment and food to restock the pantry after being closed for two years. Florence Food Share has agreed to donate bread and deserts. Many groups have generously volunteered their time, including the Knights of Columbus, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Florence Christian Church and the Lions Club. Many thanks to them and all the volunteers.

So, Free Lunch invites you to join them on Tuesdays for lunch from 11:30 to 12:30 at the Methodist Church. Everyone is welcome.

If you would like more information, or are interested in volunteering, contact Vicki Philben at 530-355-7771 or [email protected].