The soup is on, along with a whole lot more, at East Boothbay United Methodist Church. In November, the church started serving community lunches from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month. 

The lunches started after member Sue Burge started thinking about her past participation in a community lunch. She was involved with the Community Resource Council and, along with Sarah Foulger, began a weekly community lunch at St. Columba's Episcopal Church. Five churches would host a community lunch each Thursday from November to March at the church. 

This continued until COVID-19 hit. The lunches didn't return after the pandemic ended which disappointed Burge, but her participation sparked a great idea. She was inspired for her church, East Boothbay United Methodist, to start its own tradition.

The lunches at St. Columba's had "brought people together which was a beautiful thing, but it sadly ended," she said. "Last fall, I started thinking if this little church could do something similar. I brought it to our women's group, and, later to the entire church. This church may be small, but it's mighty."

So, beginning in November, the church began serving a community lunch. Jan. 6, the menu included Mulligatawny soup, red beans with rice and ham, beef stew, chilli, haddock chowder, homemade baked beans, hot dogs, a salad bar, finger sandwiches (crab, ham and egg), a dessert table (apple pie and cakes), coffee and ice water.  

The first lunch had 11 takers, followed by 18 last month, and Jan. 6 drew well over 30, according to volunteer and church member Sarah Giles. "It is growing every week," she said. "I've always been involved with this church, and I think this is a very good cause," said Giles, 81.

Giles made a fish chowder, which volunteer Lanny Whitehouse said sells out every time, and a chocolate cake. None of the volunteers receive money for their efforts or ingredients for their donated food. It cost Giles about $50 the first month, but she received some help for the second and third months from a local business. "I was thinking I can't do this every (time). So Hawke Motors decided it would sponsor me," Giles said. 

Word of the free community lunch also reached two Augusta women who rent a place on Ocean Point during the summer. Judy Carleton and Kathy Landry made the trip and enjoyed their lunch. "We rent a place down here and heard about the lunch," Carleton said. "There are a lot of wonderful people. It was worth the trip," she said. 

The second Tuesday of the month was picked to best mesh with other volunteers' schedules. "Many of our volunteers already work  with other organizations. The second Tuesday allows them to volunteer without interfering with their other activities," Burge said. 

The meal is by donation. The church will decide at a later date what local group will receive all the proceeds.