NORWICH — The Norwich Community Kitchen will continue to serve free meals every Tuesday through the month of May. Doors open at 4 p.m. and dinner is served at 5 p.m. at St. Bartholomew’s Parish Center, located at 81 East Main Street in Norwich.

All are welcome to stop by and enjoy a free, hot meal and socialization with other community members.

"It’s a special point to attend the weekly gathering, not only for the free meal but also for the conversation. It’s an important part of our community. It really brings people together, and we find that it’s a family friendly type of atmosphere," said Norwich Community Kitchen Spokesperson JoAnn Testani. "Everyone in the community is welcome to attend."

"We don’t turn anybody away, and we don’t ask questions. All they have to do is walk through the front door and sit down," she added.

The weekly meals include a main course, sides, vegetables, and dessert. Testani said Chobani also donates yogurt each month.

The menus vary, and Testani said they try to provide a nice variety. In the past, they've served meals such as macaroni and cheese, chicken and biscuits, chicken nuggets and tater tots, hamburgers and fries, spaghetti and meatballs, and more.

Drinks such as coffee, lemonade, juice, tea, milk, and water are also provided at each meal.

Testani said weekly menus are also posted on community Facebook pages, such as Chenango County Community and Chenango County Scanner Nerds.

The free meals are made possible by the efforts of volunteers who cook and serve the food each week, as well as a generous community who supports the Norwich Community Kitchen through donations, and the St. Bartholomew's Parish Center, who allows the kitchen to utilize their facilities each week.

"We’re very very fortunate to have such a great community that we have so many people who support us," said Testani. "It’s through the generosity of our contributors and the community that we’re able to do this."

Testani said thanks to the support of donors and volunteers, the Norwich Community Kitchen is able to serve around 80 people each week.

The Norwich Community Kitchen will continue to serve free weekly meals through the month of May, before taking a break for the summer and starting up again in September.