At University churches’ weekly free lunches, students are doing more than just breaking bread with their peers — the meals connect students to the larger Baton Rouge community.
Roughly 30 churches are involved in the free meals provided by campus churches throughout the school year. The area’s Baptist churches, for example, may collaborate with the Baptist Collegiate Ministry for dinner one week.
While some individuals volunteer sporadically with their respective churches, some teams and organizations, like the Knights of Columbus, donate their time and efforts.
Volunteers want students to feel they belong not just to their respective religions, but also to the greater community.
“It’s not so much to attract members — it’s to give students a place where they know they are welcome. Our goal is to give them a feeling of place,” said Susan Hankel, Christ the King director of stewardship and development.
While spiritual growth depends on students’ religious beliefs, each church strives to broaden their goals and create an environment for students to meet new people in a Christian environment, enjoy a hearty meal free of financial stress and use the gathering as an opportunity to challenge students’ daily character.
BCM director Steve Masters said various volunteers make the meals in a rotation, and some churches have speakers who provide specific challenges each week based on Bible verses or shared values of that church.
“The volunteers want to provide a Christian devotion of some sort for these college students. That’s why they come,” Masters said.
Some of the religious lessons at the meals are broad, like at the BCM, while others, like at St. Alban’s Chapel, have a specific focus. Each Wednesday, the church hosts “Lunch with C.S. Lewis” from 11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m., then follows the meal with a teaching based on C.S. Lewis’ book “Mere Christianity.” Though this meal gathering has more of an agenda than others on campus, the teachings focus on elements to unite all Christians, maintaining the key concept of community the volunteers aim to share.
The students who attend these meals also see the significance in the community building.
“I think community is really important to the church,” said psychology junior Sophie Johnson. “In order to learn more about your faith, you need to grow with other people, so it’s really cool to be able to do that here. Even if you’re not looking for self-growth, everyone is really friendly.”
Chemical engineering senior Tiffany Robinson frequents the meals at Christ the King, and said she feels these gatherings are good even for students who don’t follow the religion at the given churches, if just for a broadened individual perspective and awareness.
Outside of religious motives, these meals are an opportunity for students to save money, meet new people and relax for a lunch break.
“I’m not a member here, but everyone is really welcoming and so it’s a nice place to have a break,” said international studies senior Emily Welch.
The biggest hits on the menu have included jambalaya and gumbo, but there are a variety of dishes provided throughout the school year.
“Any of our volunteers that can afford to continue, never stop. Some have been here for 12 years,” Hankel said.

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Javier Fernández

Students enjoy their free lunch probided by Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church Thursday, September 4, 2014 in Christ the King Catholic Church.