The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries is an interfaith service that provides food and fellowship to those in need and educates our community on hunger and poverty.Our Clinton Meal Site
Meal site location: Wednesdays from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.
United Methodist Church, 12 Commerce Street, Clinton
Roy Alexander and Carol Bell serve approximately 125 meals a month from this meal site. Meals are prepared in the church kitchen and at volunteers' homes.
Here is a snapshot of just one of several of the Clinton meal site teams:
The UMC Team at the United Methodist Church in Clinton serving dinner on September 24th, 2014. (l-r) Carl Engelhart, Carolyn Berlepsch, Nan Hawes, Sharon Minick, Bev Englehart, Carol Bell, and Reverend Craig Fitzsimmons.
Date of Visit: September 24th, 2014
Meal Time: Wednesday Dinner from 5:00 to 6:00 PM
Today's Team: The "UMC Team"
How Often: 5 times a year.
Today's Menu: Garden salad, green beans, beets, "Tater-Tot Casserole" (kielbasa, baked beans with a crust of tater-tots), bread and butter, with chocolate and vanilla ice cream for dessert.
"Over the Years": Members of this team shared that the Clinton site goes back almost to the very beginning of SSKP - they've been serving meals here for at least 22 years! Over that time the number of guests has been anywhere from under 20 to over 100 at the peak in 2008, and now the average number of guests is around 35 per week.
Special Meal: This team is famous for tonight's entrée - Tater-Tot Casserole!
Some Site Details: This meal site serves dinner on the same night as SSKP's Clinton Pantry, and this team recognizes that many of their guests need to eat in time to attend the pantry, held nearby at the First Church of Christ Congregational, 55 Church Road, Clinton. With this in mind, they have parts of the meal (like the salad and dessert) pre-portioned in separate bowls, so everyone is served without any delay.
Reverend Craig Fitzsimmons
Team: The UMC Team The United Methodist Church
Town: Clinton
Years on the Team: 6
Jobs: I welcome everyone with a prayer, and help to serve the meal.
Favorite thing: I love interacting with the guests - especially the kids.
Fun Fact: I was in the first graduating class of Hampshire University. The film producer Ken Burns was in the next class!
How did you join the Team? When I started here as Pastor, this meal was one of the things I was really excited about. I'm a hands-on person.
Carl Engelhart
Team: The UMC Team
Town: Clinton
Years on the Team: 2
Jobs: I'm the Dish Man. I also unlock the church for other teams.
Favorite thing: I'm a "volunteerist". Anytime you can help, you should.
Fun Fact: In October I'm going on a mission trio to Guatemala. I'm also part of KAIROS - a Christian misson that goes into prisons in North Carolina.
How did you join the Team? I started because I'm a member of United Methodist Church in Clinton.
Nan Hawes
Team: UMC Team
Town: Clinton
Years on the Team: 20
Jobs: I'm the Salad Gal!
Special ingredients: Today's salad has fresh cucumbers from my neighbor's garden, and tomatoes from Carol Bell's garden, too.
Fun Facts: I'm the church organist. My biggest hobby is being Grandma - I have 14 grandkids and 1 great-granddaughter.
How did you join the Team? I started when the first meal was served. I've been a member of this church for 35 years.
Directions to Clinton Meal Site
From New York:
- Take I-95 North to Exit 63.
- At the end of the ramp go left, then right at traffic light.
- You will now be heading south on Route 81.
- Continue to the first traffic light (Route 1).
- Cross Route 1 and follow the curve of the road to the first cross road (Commerce Street).
- Cross Commerce Street to our driveway and parking lot.
From Providence:
- Take I-95 South to Exit 63.
- At the end of the ramp go right.
- You will now be heading south on Route 81.
- Proceed as above.
From Hartford:
- Take I-91 South to Route 9 South.
- Follow Route 9 South to Exit 9 (Route 81).
- At the end of the ramp go right.
- You will now be heading south on Route 81.
- Continue to Clinton.
- Cross Route 1 and continue as above.