Stephen Vance, Staff
Organizers of Meaford’s first ever ‘Long Table Lunch’ had planned to feed 200 guests on Bayfield Street on Saturday September 8, but ultimately more than 500 residents turned out to enjoy a free meal with their fellow community members.
A long line of tables capable of seating more than 100 people were set up along a closed section of Bayfield Street by the harbour on Saturday morning, and by noon, an even longer line of residents had gathered ready for a feast prepared by local chefs and restaurant owners.
The Long Table Lunch event was organized by four local churches – Meaford United Church, Christ Anglican Church, First Baptist and the Bethany Church of the Nazarene.
“One of the things we wanted to do is to remove the stigmas attached to where people live, or what they do for a living,” United Church Rev. Sally Ann Longfellow told The Independent. “We thought it would be nice if we all knew each other by our first names, and not by where we live or who we used to be, that we might be able to see each other as people who live together.”
In her remarks to attendees before the food was served, Rev. Longfellow told the crowd to: “Enjoy the food, and love your neighbours,” and those who attended appeared to heed that advice.
