NORWICH — The Broad Street United Methodist Church (BSUMC), located at 74 North Broad Street in Norwich, will be serving their next free meal from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 22 in the Fellowship Hall.

The monthly dinners are open to everyone, and provide free, hot meals for individuals to enjoy at the church or take to go.

In the past, the BSUMC has provided menu items such as chicken cordon bleu on a bun, pasta, ziti, turkey dinners, broccoli salad, baked ham, hash brown potatoes, pulled pork, and more.

Organizer Barbara Korver said they also offer desserts, with ice cream being a community favorite.

"People love the ice cream, so we’ve done ice cream sundaes, we’ve done the waffle cones. We try to do lots of varieties," she said.

Korver said volunteers serve over 200 people each month. She said the free monthly meals not only provide food to those in need, but serve as a welcoming environment for individuals to connect with their community.

"The meals provide a wonderful opportunity for people facing food insecurity and it gives them a chance to gather together socially in a warm, welcoming environment," she said.

Plus, Korver said providing the monthly dinners are not just an effort of the BSUMC; it's a community endeavor that involves volunteers from other churches in the area as well as community members not affiliated with a church.

"It’s become a community event because we have people from the Lutheran Church, the Catholic Church, the UCC Church," said Korver.

"It’s been wonderful for the people that come and help to serve or get together. We’ve had people form new friendships and it’s just a wonderful way for people to feel that they're doing something positive for their community," she added.

She said volunteers work to make the meals a fun event. They'll often include seasonal treats and activities, such as a visit from the Easter Bunny and a jelly bean count contest around Easter, and Halloween candy in October.

They also keep track of birthdays and anniversaries of their visitors so they can celebrate with them, and provide free books for visiting children.

Details on upcoming free community dinners can be found on the Broad Street United Methodist Church Facebook page, as well as on the sign in front of the BSUMC.

For more information on the Broad Street United Methodist Church, visit the Broad Street United Methodist Church Facebook page or UMC.org.