A benefit concert commemorating 40 years of Oberlin Weekday Community Meals will take place at 7 p.m., Oct. 25, at First Church in Oberlin, 106 N. Main St., according to a news release.
The concert is free and open to the public.
Performances will range from opera to bluegrass, gospel, dance, sacred choral repertoire and more, according to the release.
Artists include Oberlin’s own Front Porch Swatters, the Oberlin High School Chorale, the choirs of Christ Episcopal Church and the First Church in Oberlin (UCC), students and faculty from the Oberlin Community Music School, soloists from the Oberlin College & Conservatory, and others, the release said.
The concert is expected to last about one hour, and will be followed by a reception and gift basket raffle.
Since 1983, Oberlin Weekday Community Meals, formerly Hot Meals, a ministry of Christ Episcopal Church, has served free evening meals from the parish hall at 162 S. Main St. in Oberlin.
It has grown to become the largest program of its kind in the region, operating Monday through Friday, year-round, according to the release.
In September 2023, Oberlin Weekday Community Meals averaged over 100 freshly prepared, nutritious take-out dinners daily, the release said.
The meals are available from 5 to 5:30 p.m. every weekday, except certain holidays.
Christ Church recently finalized an agreement with Oberlin Community Services to co-fund the construction of a brand-new, state-of-the-art, environmentally responsible commercial kitchen at the Cooper Center, the new headquarters at 500 E. Lorain St.
The parish committed $100,000 to the project, and the kitchen is anticipated to open sometime next year, according to the release.
“This is an incredibly exciting time for Community Meals,” said the Rev. Andy McQuery, rector of Christ Church in the release. “The new kitchen will dramatically expand both efficiency and capacity, allowing us to do so much more than we can right now.
“The intention is to have hot meals available in two convenient locations on opposite sides of town, so that we can reach even more people.”
For more information, call the office at Christ Episcopal Church at 440-775-2501.
