When St. Paul’s Episcopal Church considered the possibility of doing a community meal program in 1998, questions arose over whether it would be a hit.

“Nobody wanted to believe that Benicia had a need for such a meal,” Program Coordinator Debi Hall said.

Twenty years later, the Community Meal Program is still going strong and has only grown bigger.

“We still have a need in town,” Hall said.

Every Wednesday afternoon, people who visit St. Paul’s will be treated to a free hot meal, ranging from casseroles to meatloaf to pasta and everything in between.

“Nothing is off the menu,” Hall said. “We’ve done it all.”

The program began as the brainchild of a men’s group called the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, who decided there was a need for free meals in Benicia. They obtained permits to host it, raised money buy a large oven and the Community Meal program was underway.

Hall, who has coordinated the program for 19 years, said the Community Meal would feed approximately 25 people each week in the first few years but has since grown into one that feeds between 125 and 150 people each week. The kitchen was remodeled over time, and numerous volunteers have come out to help. These have included religious institutions such as Heritage Presbyterian Church and Northgate Christian Fellowship, the Benicia Kiwanis Club, Cub Scouts, Boy and Girl Scouts, students at St. Dominic School, and the Key and Leadership clubs at Benicia High School.

Additionally, foods, supplies, paper goods, money and more have been donated over the years by such organizations as the Community Action Council, Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, Heritage Presbyterian Church, Kiwanis Club, Benicia Friendship Club, Soroptimist International of Benicia, Romancing the Home and more.

“We’ve had to do lots of fundraising over the years to remodel our kitchen, to keep the funds going, to buy what we need for the Wednesday meal,” Hall said. “It’s taken lots of effort on lots of people’s part. Lots of people in the community have donated over the years.”

One aspect that stands out for Hall about the Community Meal is that anyone who walks through the doors of St. Paul’s during mealtime will be welcome to a hot meal, no exceptions.

“We don’t discriminate,” she said. “We don’t ask questions.”

St. Paul’s will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of the meal program on two occasions in the next week. The first is during the traditional Sunday service at 8:45 a.m., when Rev. Peter Champion will invite Hall to talk about the program after Champion finishes his sermon. The second will be during the meal’s regular time of 4:30 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 22. Hot dogs will be grilled in the backyard, and the community is welcome to stop by for a picnic.

Hall is happy the program is still going.

“I think the most important thing about this program is the fact that we have continued to feed our neighbors for all this time,” she said. “We’ve been there every Wednesday for 20 years.”

Hall also noted that donations are welcome to keep the program going.

“For this program to continue the next 20 years, we will still need the community’s help,” she said.

St. Paul’s is located at 120 East J St. For more information on the Community Meal or upcoming events, email admin@stpaulsbenicia.org or call 745-0307.