From left, the Reverand Luke Foder, rector, St. Lukes Episcopal Church and Nick Weith, food access manager it’s all about going green and building community around food for this intrepid duo. Photo by Christopher Blakeslee

For Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church in Jamestown, building community is a core value and targeted mission for its leadership.

To help accomplish this goal, the church has hired Nick Weith to lead its food access programs.

“When you break it down, we’re all human,” said Rev. Luke Foder, rector, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. “One unifying factor is we all need food and water. Food has traditionally been a uniting factor for all. You talk and share a meal. That’s what we’re trying to do here. We serve food in a family style meal presentation, and we’re trying to bring and create community here.”

The first planned meal is scheduled to take place at St. Luke’s Undercroft, 410 North Main St., from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday. The meal is free and open to the public. For more information about the Monday Night Cafe’ call St. Lukes at 716-483-6405 or visit stlukesjamestown.org .

“At our first meal we will be serving locally sourced lasagna,” Foder said. “You can have individuals who are considered in the upper end of income earning sitting next to someone who could be considered middle class,” he said”. Talking, socially interacting, just humans, being respectful and accepting of each other. It’s all about creating community. Those who are homeless are encouraged to come. We don’t discriminate and welcome all to the table to share a plate.”

Weith received degrees in Business and Culinary Arts from Johnson & Wales University in Denver, Colo. in 2015. In 2019, Weith, then delved into a farm-to-school programing for Forestville Central School. There, he worked to integrate locally grown foods into school meals and initiated the transition to fresh, scratch-cooked, foods as part of the school’s meal plan program.

“Food should be considered a right for all -and should be- presented in a respectful fashion,” said Weith. “When we pass the “plate” we’re passing respect to each other -its like saying- you matter, you belong here, we’re neighbors.“

On top of Weith’s supervision of the Monday Night Cafe’ program he will also oversee other food access programming, such as the local Mobile Food Market and other “food-to-plate” initiatives.

“I want to expand some of the mobile market’s offerings,” said Weith. “I’m still getting my feet under everything and I’m trying to learn all I can before I make any major changes, but I agree with Rev. Luke’s vision of creating community around meals and food.”

Another aspect of Weith’s area of supervision will also include the local Farmer’s Market. The Jamestown Public Market, a weekly farmers’ market, runs Saturdays, June through October, and is tentatively scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. downtown. Local farmers, homesteaders, food businesses, prepared food vendors and local craft artisans are invited to apply as market vendors. For more information on applying to be a vendor at the Public Market, or for more information about the actual market itself visit www.jtownpublicmarket.org/farmers-market.

“It’s my hope to encourage people to shop at our local market, bring more locally grown fruits and vegetables and other locally made products to the market. When products are purchased at a local market such as this, the money then stays locally. It’s good for everyone,” he said.