Sunday Soup & Sandwiches Concludes on Sunday, October 26

Celebrating over 5 years of ministry, and over 37,100 meals

Greenfield, Massachusetts October 19, 2025 - On Sunday, October 26 the Sunday Soup and Sandwiches feeding ministry, located at the Episcopal Church of Saints James and Andrew, will come to an end, after five and a half years of ministry and over 37,100 meals served. This year alone has been just shy of 10,000 meals.

The meal began in March 2020 when another local meal on the town common made the difficult decision to shut down due to the pandemic. Saints James and Andrew felt they could offer a temporary program to fill the void until things re-opened. They imagined this would be for two weeks. Church leaders could hardly have guessed how long the pandemic would last, or how great the need for these meals would truly be. The program grew steadily from a handful of guests in the first couple of weeks, to well over 300 meals many weeks. 

This decision was made after much prayer and consideration, and was announced in late February. Since the meal was always meant as a temporary measure, program leaders would faithfully check-in to evaluate if they could continue the ministry for another six months. During this conversation in the fall of 2024, it was clear core leaders would need to step back in the coming year. This change, combined with the increasing demand for meals, the parish’s limited capacity, concern for volunteer burnout, and the ongoing challenge of funding led volunteers to begin an intentional process of discerning whether it was time to conclude the meal. Program leaders explored alternative options before recommending the meal wrap up in 2025 to the larger group of volunteers and donors. The program leaders’ decision was affirmed by volunteers, donors, church leadership, and the entire parish at their January Annual Meeting. 

It is a bittersweet decision. The parish remains acutely aware of the increasing need for meals like Sunday Soup & Sandwiches. Yet volunteers also know they’ve made a fundamental difference in the quality of life for their neighbors here in Franklin County - particularly amongst those living rough.  

The final meal will be on Sunday, October 26 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. The parish is determined to get the word out so folks understand this meal is concluding, and asks the community to help spread the word. It is the parish’s sincere hope that just as they once filled a gap, the larger community may find a way to come together and address what will be a new gap in the meal programs offered in Greenfield. For an up to date list of community meals and food pantries, visit the City of Greenfield’s website. 

On Sunday, November 2 during their 10 a.m. worship service, Saints James and Andrew will offer a prayer of thanksgiving for Sunday Soup and Sandwiches; its site leaders, volunteers, and donors; and the many lives that were touched through this ministry. Anyone who has ever supported this meal - whether that be in prayer, donations, or volunteering - is invited to attend. Saints James and Andrew  seek to offer their heartfelt thanks to folks from all across Franklin County who have supported and participated in this meal, and say - well done, good and faithful servants. 

If you would like more information on this topic, please call Rev. Heather J. Blais at 413-773-3925 or [email protected]; or Erica Burns, Coordinator at 413-230-4458 or [email protected].  Please note, Saints James and Andrew will continue to offer Second Helpings, a free community meal offered each Monday at 4:30 p.m. in partnership with Deerfield Academy.