Free Community Dinners Pass 5,000th Meal Served Mark

The Melrose Community Dinner, a weekly dinner for senior citizens and members of the community who are otherwise down on their luck, has just passed its 5,000th meal mark.

The dinners, which are sponsored by the Melrose Council on Aging and Mystic Valley Elder Services, started in 2008 and have been held every Tuesday night since then at the Milano Senior Center.

The dinners began in response to the downturn in the economy, according to Mayor Rob Dolan, as a way to help people in the community without the means to make ends meet.

"There was an obvious need ... people were in real dire straits," Dolan said. "There were a number of people who didn't have enough to eat."

Dolan, who instituted the dinners, felt that the city could provide those in need with a safe place to eat while maintaining a high level of quality of presentation.

"There are people there that wouldn't have a healthy meal if we didn't provide it for them," said Dolan. "There are people there who are alone and want to be part of a community."

The dinners cost the city about $20,000 annually, which comes from the Emerson Fund, a trust given established by the Emerson family to help Melrose residents people in need. The food, which comes from Lindley Caterers in Everett, is served by different volunteer organizations each week, including St. Mary's Church, Incarnation Parish, the Melrose Emblem Club and the Girl Scouts of America.

Debbie Walz, who is at Milano Senior Center every Tuesday to organize the volunteers and help with the food service, loves her job.

"I love the people and I love the community ... it's a lot of fun," Walz said. 

Zach Zahner, a volunteer that has come every week for two years, wants to give back to the city. 

"I think my favorite part is when you're serving food and they say thanks," Zahner said. "When they see me and they say, 'Hey Zach,' that's really nice."

According to Dolan, that enjoyment comes from the sense of community provided by the dinners.

"It really is more like a party or a function than like a meal," he said.

Dolan said that the dinners don't currently get the number of children that he would like, and expressed encouragement to those that need help.

"We get a lot of people that have never needed help before, and don't know what to do," he said.

There is no charge for the dinner, but anyone planning to attend is asked to make a reservation by calling 781-662-6886.