Building a Community One Meal at a Time

The first year of Emmitsburg Neighborhood Meals is winding down and is being considered a success in helping to build connections between residents while sharing a meal.

The program began after a citizen suggested to Emmitsburg Mayor Frank Davis to start a program offering a hot meal to folks in need. Davis and Operations Specialist Brandy Malocha met with churches and nonprofits in town to discuss the idea and how to make it feasible. Out of those meetings came the idea that it needed to be a community project.

Beginning in March, a different town organization sponsored a neighborhood meal, usually on the second Wednesday of each month. The sponsoring organization provides the volunteers to run it and takes care of the costs and menu. They purchase the food and prepare it in the Vigilant Hose Company’s activities building on Creamery Road, which has a kitchen approved by the Frederick County Health Department. It also creates a single location for the meal, so people always know where it is held.

“Many people think that the meals are a town-sponsored program,” Malocha said. “That is not accurate. The town brought the idea to the churches and nonprofits, and the town hosted the very first meal. But this program is actually a community-sponsored program that the town spearheaded with me as the primary contact person.”

Although the program is designed to help people in need, anyone is welcome to share in the meal and get to know other residents of Emmitsburg.

“We do not turn anyone away or ask any questions,” Malocha said. “There is no checking of IDs or anything like that. No judgement or questions! …We purposefully don’t use people counters or take any guests’ information, as we want people to feel comfortable and respected when they stop by for their meal.”

As of August 23, more than 600 meals have been served, or roughly 100 meals each month.

“We want everyone to feel they belong and are part of the community, no matter their financial situation,” Malocha said. “Folks are welcome to take their meal to-go, but we encourage people to stay and eat at the activities building to help bring the fellowship part into play.”

This month’s meal is on October 8, but November’s meal will be hosted on Thanksgiving Day. It will be the last meal for this year.

“If all goes as planned, we’ll have a free meal each month, January through November, in 2026,” Malocha said. She plans on announcing next year’s schedule by the middle of November.

To be kept up to date on information about the meals, check the town’s Facebook page, watch for announcements on Channel 99, or look for the flyers posted around town with information about the get-togethers.

If anyone is a member of an organization that would like to sponsor a meal, you can contact Malocha at BMalocha@EmmitsburgMD.gov or call 301-600-6300.