Free Community Easter Dinner To Take Place In Wallingford

WALLINGFORD, CT — Organizers are making final preparations for the Wallingford Community Dinners, Inc.’s annual Easter dinner this weekend.

The free meal event will take place from 12 noon to 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 20 at First Congregational Church at 23 South Main St. in Wallingford.

“Things are coming together nicely,” Wallingford Community Dinners, Inc. President Kathy Wallace said. “We've secured most of the food, which puts us in a good place. Right now, we're focusing on recruiting a few more volunteers and identifying people who would like meals delivered. We expect interest in delivery to pick up this week.”

The nonprofit group has been serving the community for more than 40 years by providing dinners to those in need on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.

Wallace said the dinners are a “meaningful way to show people we care.”

“We offer a warm, welcoming meal to those who may be struggling financially or simply looking for connection on the holiday,” she said. “It’s about good food, great company, and giving back to the community.”

Wallace said planning and running the Easter dinner usually involves between 75 and 85 volunteers.

“From organizing logistics to preparing and delivering meals, every step depends on their generosity and hard work,” she said. “Volunteers are the heart of these dinners — none of it would be possible without them.”

Wallace said the Easter dinner tends to draw slightly fewer meal requests compared to the Thanksgiving and Christmas events, but it can be a “bit more challenging to recruit volunteers.”

“That said, we're in a good place right now, though we’ll need anywhere from 20 to 40 volunteers, depending on the number of meal deliveries we end up making,” she said.

Wallace said most of the planning for the event is complete, and the food has been purchased or donated.

“We still need to prepare the meals so they’re ready to reheat on Easter,” she said. “I’ll also be picking up 200 pounds of potatoes from The Elks, and we're expecting our usual generous donations of bread and desserts from Stop & Shop and ShopRite — which are our sole sources for those items. Wallingford Community Dinners is completely donation-based, so monetary contributions are always welcome to help support this dinner and future events.”

Donations from local businesses help make the dinners possible, especially with increasing food prices, according to Wallace.

“Food prices have definitely been a challenge — everything just costs more these days, and when you're trying to feed a lot of people on a tight budget, it adds up fast,” Wallace said. “That's why support from local businesses is such a big deal. This year, Thurston Foods donated all the hams, which was a fabulous surprise and a huge help. Donations like that really make the dinner possible, especially with prices being what they are.”

Pre-ordered meals will also be delivered to the homebound on Easter Sunday. Those meals need to be ordered by 5 p.m. on Friday, April 18, according to Wallace.

“Knowing ahead of time really helps us plan our routes and make sure everyone gets what they need,” she said. “That said, if someone calls after the deadline, we’ll do our best to get a meal to them — we never want anyone to go without.”

Wallace said this year’s Easter Dinner will be a “wonderful celebration, not just with a delicious meal, but with fun activities, too.”

“We’ll have crafts and games for children and a talented piano player who creates a truly festive atmosphere,” she said. “We’re excited to welcome people this year and hope to see new faces join us for a memorable time.”

Anyone interested in volunteering is asked to call 203-514-8883.

To have a meal delivered, also call 203-514-8883 or email WallingfordCommunityDinners@gmail.com.

Anyone interesting in making a donation, should make it payable to Wallingford Community Dinners, Inc, PO Box 211, Wallingford, CT 06492. Donations are also accepted at its website here.