Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Shared Meals

[Hafidha Sofia (hafidhaao]

It’s worrisome to hear about the decline of participation. The community I’m a 
part of is still doing 5 meals a week - we never stopped. There may have been a 
pause of a week or two to pivot and adapt when  the pandemic shutdown first 
happened. (For example, for many months the dining room was closed, cooks had 
to be masked and from same household/pod, and all meals were served to-go or 
for outdoors.)

If a community is suffering a lack of interest or participation, it might be a 
good time to facilitate a community discussion about it. And i don’t mean a 
town hall or meeting, but something that would remind and reconnect people to 
the joys and benefits of community meals. For example… A slide show of past 
community meal photographs (with upbeat music), storytelling about notable 
meals, and plenty of appreciation for past and present cooks.

People will put forth the effort to figure this out if their spirits are 
roused. A robust food program is logistically a lot of work - but the value to 
community is priceless and intangible. I hope all impacted communities can find 
a way to revive / reinvigorate their meal programs. 

Hafidha