Every Monday and Wednesday at 5 PM, hosted by Christ Episcopal Church, 2000 Main St, Stratford, CT 06615.
To volunteer, contact Deacon Paul Kurmay at St. Marks RCC.
The Lord’s Kitchen, an initiative of the Stratford Clergy Association, has been in existence since January of 2011 when the first meal served during a snow storm when only three hardy souls showed up, including an elderly man who biked several blocks in the snow. Since then the number of our guests has increased dramatically. In all of 2011, about 1,200 meals were served. In 2012, over 5,000 meals were served, and in 2013 the number grew to 9,036. in 2014, a total of 10,089 meals were served.
Christ Episcopal Church of Stratford opened its own kitchen and hall to the Lord’s Kitchen in April of 2011, where all the meals are served. Christ Church, has been a gracious and congenial host, welcoming all those in need to partake of this community supper. Christ Church also serves a meal once a month, donated by Vazzy’s Nineteenth Hole of Bridgeport. Ten other Stratford churches also purchase, prepare and serve meals on a rotational basis. They include: First Baptist Church of Stratford, St. Mark Church, St. James Church, St. John’s Orthodox Church, St. Joseph’s National Catholic Church, First Congregational Church of Stratford, Our Lady of Peace Church, Our Lady of Grace Church, Holy Name of Jesus Church, Lordship Community Church and Stratford United Methodist Church.
Deacon F. Paul Kurmay of St. Mark Church has served as the Lord’s Kitchen coordinator since its inception and attends to the scheduling of each church and providing supplies, paper goods and other products that are used in common by the participating churches. It is so heartwarming to see so many Stratford residents, of every race, creed and age, enjoy a well-cooked home meal in a friendly community setting. That’s why we don’t describe ourselves as a “soup kitchen”, because the meals we serve are as good as any offered by any church to its own members. There is laughter, joking and even singing on occasion. In short, it’s like being home.