Affton Christian Church (ACC) has been providing a monthly meal to the St. Louis Fisher House since 2012. The Fisher House is a non-profit organization that provides a place to stay for military families, so they can be close to a loved one during hospitalization. Several years ago, a member of ACC received medical treatment out of state and their spouse stayed at a home like the Fisher House. The kindness expressed to them through the gift of a hot meal after a long day at the hospital was their inspiration to begin the Fisher House meal program.
Each month, church members sign up to bring an item on the menu or make a monetary contribution towards the meal. Food can be dropped off at church or brought to the Fisher House on the last Wednesday of each month, where they can also help to prepare, serve and eat a meal with the Fisher House residents. The meals are usually “comfort food” including entrees such as fried chicken, beef stew, chicken and dumplings, and sloppy joes. Of course, there are always wonderful desserts!
A special part of each evening spent at the Fisher House is sitting down to eat the meal with the residents. We get to hear their stories and fellowship together. Recently, a family with several children arrived at the Fisher House right as we were serving dinner. They had just driven in from Washington state. The father shared that his family would be staying for quite a while because his father-in-law had just entered hospice. They were happy to have a hot meal waiting for them after such a long drive. Several ACC members answered questions for them about the area and tried to make them feel at home.
There are several residents that receive monthly treatments at the VA hospital that schedule their appointments around our meals. It is a privilege to know them and catch up with them each time we get to see them.
We are very grateful that the Fisher House has allowed ACC to volunteer at their facility for so many years. It is a blessing to be the “Hands and Feet” of Christ in this small way.
Thanks to ACC’s Deidra Woods for this story and photos.