Free meal is an Austin staple on Easter

Published 10:13 am Friday, March 29, 2013

Nearly every church does something special and fun during the Easter holiday, and Christ Episcopal Church’s event has proven to be exactly that. Its free Easter meal has stood the test of time.

The church, at 310 Third Ave. NW in Austin, is hosting its 14th annual free community Easter dinner from noon to 1 p.m. Sunday after its 10 a.m. service of resurrection.

“I was surprised that it’s been going that many years,” the Rev. Catherine Lemons said.

Email newsletter signup

Lori Amick, who helps cook the meal, has been with it since the beginning, in 2000. The event has grown every year. This year’s meal will include ham, au gratin potatoes, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn pudding, corn bake, glazed carrots, green beans, pasta salads and various desserts.

“It’s really just a feel-good day,” Amick added.

While Lemons is fairly new to the event, she saw how important it is to many in the community.

“They were very grateful for a place to come and be with other people,” Lemons said about the people who attended last year’s event.

Lemons will join the meal for just her second year. She said about 150 people attended last year’s meal, many of them not even members of the church, as the meal is open to the public.

The meal is a help for less fortunate families on Easter, but it’s also a way for people who have no local family or who live alone to get out and enjoy company on a joyous holiday. To Lemons, that’s what it’s all about.

“It’s so typical of what Christ Church is about,” Lemons said. “It’s so typical of the heart of the people of Christ Church of reaching out to the community and wanting to feed and love everyone.”

There are no strangers at this meal. What’s more?

“This is free,” Lemons said with excitement. “And it’s a lovely meal.”