Our Town, Our Table: The Community-Building Power of a Shared Meal
On the first Monday night of the month in Guilford, Vermont, residents gather at the Broad Brook Community Center for a potluck dinner. It’s November, and in keeping with the season, the organizers have decorated the meeting hall with votive candles and marigolds in a nod to both All Souls’ Day and the Mexican tradition of Día de Muertos, Day of the Dead.
This month, the 55 residents who turned out were invited to bring not only a dish to share but also photos of deceased loved ones or beloved animals to place on the community altar.
Food and memory were in equal supply. Meg (that’s what her name tag says—neighbors know her for longtime involvement in the local community theater) brought a generous tray of macaroni and cheese that proved especially popular with children, who lined up for seconds. Dan and Mike arrived with marinated pulled chicken and always happy to talk about gardening. Rick and Jeanette’s enchiladas go fast—they’re both older and relative newlyweds, and bring the dish often—but there’s a healthy variety of chili to choose from.
…
Read the full article on Resilience.org.
