NORWICH – On Thursday, May 8 the Emmanuel Episcopal Outreach Committee held its Emmanuel Soul Food Kitchen (ESFK) community meal. The meal is scheduled on the second Thursday of every month with one setting at 5:30 p.m. at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Norwich. Come summertime the series will end but will begin again on September 11, explained Father Chuck Taylor.

“This has been running since September and was paid for by Emmanuel Episcopal Church,” said Taylor. “We serve on average 75 to 80 people.”

Taylor had the original idea because he and members of the committee understand how large a problem “food insecurity” is for those in Chenango County.

“In 2012... 14.5 percent (17.6 million households) were food insecure,” states a United States Department of Agriculture survey. “Food-insecure house-holds (those with low and very low food security) had difficulty at some time during the year providing enough food for all their members due to a lack of resources.”

States a ESFK release, “The unemployed or retired, young men/women unable to find jobs, or anyone in need of a hot meal, or those who wish to enjoy the sense of camaraderie, are welcome.”

“I think we have a needy group. We see most of the same people,” said parishioner and server, Carl Berdzimski. “I don't think people know how poor Chenango County is.”