On a recent Thursday, near lunch time, my grumbling stomach reminded me that I’d scheduled a little trip to Islesboro’s blink-and-you’ll-miss-it downtown to check out the Second Baptist Church’s version of a sort of senior citizens’ Moody’s Diner. Since January of 2003, the Missions Community Outreach Committee of the Second Baptist Church has been hosting luncheons every Thursday at 11:30 a.m. for folks who don’t get out frequently. Although primarily attended by senior citizens, the luncheon is not exclusively aimed at that segment of the population – it’s also open to those who find themselves alone a lot of time, those who may have recently lost a spouse, or not-so-senior citizens who just enjoy getting together with others.
Arriving at the luncheon, I was greeted not only by cheery “hellos” from the volunteer cooks and diners, but also by the melodious tones of Barbara Pendleton accompanying her singing on piano. Since their inception, an integral part of the luncheons has been the live music provided by many talented islanders. From January through May, members of the Charlie Pendleton Band have provided background music, and, when they couldn’t make it, other performers such as Barbara Pendleton, Bill Rogers and Lynn Hall have filled in. Committee member Jessica Oldham says this has been a great source of enjoyment for everyone at the luncheon – cooks, helpers, attendees and the musicians themselves.
On the Thursday I visited, the menu consisted of corn chowder, turkey salad sandwiches, apple dessert and ice cream. Looking over Jessica Oldham’s meticulous notes on past luncheons, I was struck by the variety of menus put together by the volunteer cooks. The meals are substantial and nutritious, down-home cookin’ style for the most part. There was Johnny Erskine’s Ham, Macaroni and Cheese menu, Betty Boucher’s Chicken Parmesan, Joan Balkus’s Pea Soup, Fish Chowder by Miles Stebbins, Wendy Sawyer’s Chicken a la King, Lou Ann Bebb’s Smothered Beef and Sandy Oliver’s Shepherd’s Pie. The list went on and on. I was glad to see that old diner comfort-food standby, meatloaf, had also been included on the menu one afternoon, cooked by Alice Girvin. I was only sorry that each menu didn’t include recipes – which might, perhaps, be a good idea for a future fund-raiser.
Multitudes of terrific volunteers have made these luncheons possible. Some cook the entire meal; some cooks volunteer just to do dessert. Some even pay for the meals out of their own pockets. Funding for the meals is mostly provided by the Second Baptist Church, who also provides the fellowship room. Many other islanders help to set up, serve, clean up and package lunches to be delivered afterward. Missions Community Outreach committee members are Alice Girvin, Lydia Rolerson, Nina Speed, Jessica Oldham and Mary Hauprich. The Islesboro Community Center Committee has also assisted with the luncheons, particularly regarding the scheduling of people to deliver lunches to those who can’t attend. There are usually 15 – 20 people at each luncheon, with approximately 12 meals delivered afterward.
As I was enjoying Sandy Oliver’s lovely chowder, I couldn’t help but eavesdrop on conversations around the tables, of which there were basically two – gentlemen at one, ladies at the other. I asked the ladies’ table why they were segregated this way, and was told the boys weren’t good-lookin’ enough, and needed to brush up on their conversational skills. The gentlemen’s general comment about the girls was, “they might be contagious.” I didn’t pursue that line of inquiry, as I was afraid of what the explanation might be.
The gentlemen’s conversation ranged from the deer population and the need to loosen up on the island’s hunting regulations to a lively discussion of the lobster industry. One gentleman remembered when he sold hand-picked lobsters to summer folk for 50 cents each. Another reminisced about the time he went lobstering all around the island and returned with only three “bugs.”
Meanwhile, the ladies were busy discussing children and grandchildren and handing out advice, amid a great deal of laughter. The words, “Stop your drinking and take care of yourself” drifted over to my table. I looked around to see who’d said that, and to whom, but – sorry, folks – I couldn’t identify the source, and don’t want to be the one to pass along THAT rumor. I also overheard the comment, “I’d like to see how you are when you’re ninety-one!” Indeed.
The original plan was to halt the luncheons at the end of May and resume in the fall, due to the busy summer schedule that engulfs most islanders. Although it was thought there wouldn’t be enough volunteers to keep the program going, Sandy Oliver, an active participant in the luncheons, felt differently. Oliver believes that community service shouldn’t stop because of the busy summertime schedule, but rather should continue, giving the summer population a chance to join in. Largely due to her efforts, the luncheons will continue throughout the summer.
Participation in this community service program can take many different forms – from cooking a meal and serving it, to donating the services of a summer cook to help out. For example, Mrs. Laurie Kazilionis has graciously released her chef, Christophe Cabanne, to prepare and serve a dessert once a month for the summer season. Cabanne served a beautiful apple dessert at the luncheon I attended, and diners were greatly appreciative of the fruits of his efforts.
The Missions Community Outreach Committee would like to thank everyone – and it’s quite a lengthy list – who has participated thus far in making this weekly event the success it has become. Luncheons are held regularly each Thursday at 11:30 a.m. at the Second Baptist Church’s fellowship room, and anyone interested in helping out with this worthwhile activity should contact a committee member to sign up. Volunteers are needed to cook, set up, serve, clean up, and deliver meals afterwards. And participants are always welcomed, of course, to come enjoy the food, music and camaraderie Islesboro’s community has provided.