Free hot meals are available at the Norwich Community Kitchen every Tuesday at the St. Bartholomew's Parish Center, located at 81 East Main Street in Norwich. Doors open at 4 p.m. and volunteers begin serving dinner at 5 p.m. (Photo by Sarah Genter)

NORWICH — The Norwich Community Kitchen is serving up free hot meals every Tuesday at the St. Bartholomew's Parish Center, located at 81 East Main Street in Norwich. The doors open at 4 p.m. and volunteers begin serving dinner at 5 p.m.

The Community Kitchen was founded in 2010 with the goal of meeting the needs of the community and to encourage community involvement.

Norwich Community Kitchen Spokesperson JoAnn Testani emphasized that the free meals are open to everyone in the Chenango County and surrounding communities, no questions asked.

Volunteer workers with the Community Kitchen said the weekly meals are not just for those in need, but also for people to come together, make new friends, visit with old friends, and enjoy each other's company.

"It’s a special point to attend the weekly gathering, not only for the free meal but also for the conversation. It’s an important part of our community. It really brings people together, and we find that it’s a family friendly type of atmosphere," said Testani. "Everyone in the community is welcome to attend. We enjoy anyone that would like to help or just come down for a nice dinner."

"We have little place mats for kids with crayons that they can color, to keep them busy," she added. "[For] Halloween we made little trick or treat bags. We try to make it a little more, not just some place to come and eat your dinner and then get out."