CAZENOVIA — After a nearly three-year break, Friendship Inn Cazenovia will be reopening for in-house service on Monday, March 20 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Through the COVID pandemic, the weekly outreach program meant to revolve around food and camaraderie has steadily distributed 75 to 80 meals on a first-come, first-served basis.
“I know that many of our older clients have been looking forward to it because it’s their time of fellowship with others that they missed so much,” said Duane Moore, the kitchen director for the Friendship Inn. “They’ve been asking about it and asking about it, but with COVID jumping back up, we didn’t dare do it.”
The Friendship Inn dining hall is located in the lower level of the building at 21 Lincklaen St. shared by Summit Church and Cazenovia United Methodist Church.
Open to anyone and everyone, the non-profit meal service has provided grub such as pork chops, ziti coated in meat sauce, and hot dogs with sides of vegetables and fresh garden salads.
“You get a well-rounded meal,” said Dan Schallmo, the senior pastor for Summit Church. “There’s also a synergy between our churches, and we enjoy each other’s company. With the COVID restrictions essentially being lifted now too, we feel comfortable doing the in-person service again.”
The collaborative initiative led by the combined ministries has also welcomed helping hands from the greater community, whether it be from local businesses, the town rotary club, other churches, or random groups of volunteers who help to prepare and serve the meals. Moore calls the assistance received over the years a “blessing.”
In the past, Dave’s Diner in Cazenovia, Caz Sports Bowl, Tops Friendly Market, the Brewster Inn, the Lincklaen House, Heritage Hill Brewhouse and HeartStone Artisan Bakery have been among the establishments that have supplied food for the Friendship Inn’s Monday meals. The program supervisors also keep up with the contents of the monthly Food Bank of Central New York newsletter.
Because the Friendship Inn has regularly relied on Cazenovia College’s food service personnel for excess food, from pans of corn to frozen shrimp scampi, not to mention the support of administrators, faculty members and students through the semesters, Schallmo said the permanent closure of the institution after the current academic year will be a “deep loss.”
“It’s a shock wave that’s still rippling through our community,” he said. “We’ve enjoyed a good partnership and close association with them, so that’s going to be a big dent in our food supply.”
Speaking on the return of the service line to the indoor comfort of the Lincklaen Street building around the same time that the college is coming to an end, Moore said the remaining helpers will lift the food program up as best they can.
“It’s all a matter of faith, and we’re gonna make it work,” said Moore, a member of Cazenovia United Methodist Church.
The Friendship Inn started 10 years ago when Summit Church was located on Thompson Road off New York State Route 13. There are similar programs in Hamilton and Morrisville.
The Cazenovia program also incorporates a delivery component for the Carriage House East Apartments in Manlius and the Cazenovia Village Apartments, affectionately called “24 Nelson” in reference to its address.
Schallmo said his church building’s reopening space is a place for people to connect with one another.
“Over the years, I’ve enjoyed getting to know people,” he said. “They have various needs that from a pastoral care standpoint we’re able to provide.”
The Friendship Inn does not offer meals on national holidays or on days when the local school districts are closed due to snow.
Tax-deductible monetary donations can be made at the door or online through friendshipinns.org. Visitors to that website can also find the weekly menus and information related to school closings.
For more, contact Duane Moore at 315-952-6685 or [email protected]. The volunteer coordinator, Deb Wilcox, can be reached at 315-506-0478 or [email protected].
