Friendship Meals, a grassroots, entirely volunteer organization, held its general membership and annual meeting on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011, following service of the evening’s weekly free hot meal. The organization warmly welcomed to their first term new board members Tina Maag, Marilyn Mahoney and Adil Wadia. Thanked for their many years of service to Friendship Meals were retiring board members Walt Jordan, Jim Huntsberger, and Charlene Nichols. Elected officers include Amy Hostetler (president), Marilyn Mahoney (vice president), Tina Maag (treasurer) and Stacey Underwood (secretary). During the meeting it was announced that beginning on Monday evening, Jan. 9, a second community meal will be available, free of charge, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the rented lower level of Orrville’s Christ United Church of Christ. These Monday meals, of lighter fare than Thursday’s hot meal program, will consist of dessert, soup and sandwich or soup and salad, depending on the season.

Supported greatly by Orrville Area United Way, the Akron-Canton Food Bank and donations from various community groups and individuals, Friendship Meals, Inc. was founded with the desire to care for the community by serving free hot meals in an atmosphere where adults and children can come together and feel good about themselves and their community.

The Friendship Meals family looks to dedicated community volunteers to share a compassionate response to community hunger. Donations of any kind, be it monetary, cooking supplies, food or serving items, or your valuable time, are gratefully accepted. With the advent of providing a second weekly meal and because many hands make light work, Friendship Meals is seeking volunteer organizations, service clubs, churches and individuals to serve as “cookers” or closers, shoppers and servers, dishwasher and elevator operators, and set up and tear down assistance. Simple on-site training will be provided gladly.