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MONDAY February 23, 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels December 27, 2003 Uncle Food's brings different people together Uncle Food's Diner was busy Tuesday night. Quiet conversations filled the room and soft piano music drifted through the air. Over a dinner of spaghetti, mushroom soup, bread and fresh fruit, people from all walks of life gathered together in the Methodist Church Wesley Hall. Tables were a mix of men and women, children and old. Some people were obviously better off financially than others, but no one seems to notice. At one point the whole crowd pauses their meal to sing one woman happy birthday. "That might be all she gets for her birthday," dishwasher Linda Richards said. Uncle Food's Diner is not a new restaurant in town but a community meal sponsored by Peace House. The meal is held every Tuesday night at 4:30 and is served on a donations only basis. Everyone from the homeless and working poor to hungry college students comes to take advantage of the opportunity for a home-cooked meal. "This means different things to different people," Tom Crimmins said. "We call it a community meal to leave the door open to anyone to come participate whether they are traveling through or a millionaire." Crimmins is one of the volunteers who have helped to keep the Diner open for the past ten years. He became a part of the program six years ago when he moved to Ashland. "It was December of '97," Crimmins said. "I was living on the outskirts of town in a tent and got information about the diner at the Peace House. I just jumped in and took over cooking the tofu, now I am the vegan cook." Many other volunteers put in time and effort to keep the diner open. There are cooks, dishwashers, servers, and many others. Local businesses also do their part to help by donating food. The college donates meat for the Diner, the Ashland Co-op and Market of Choice donate fresh, organic fruits and vegetables, the Village Bakery donates fresh baked bread. "Our volunteers are a mixed group of community members - we have bankers, business owners and the unemployed. It really just takes everyone," said volunteer Sue Ward. One local man has a job and a place to live but Uncle Food's Diner helps keep his meal costs down. "This is lunch tomorrow, I usually have to spend $10," he said, packing leftover spaghetti and broccoli into a Tupperware container he brought. Crimmins watches and remarks about the huge quantities of food simply thrown away while so many people still go hungry. Volunteer Bill Johnson is a general contractor and takes time out of his schedule to spend time at the diner because it brings a balance to life. "We get the illusion that life is busy and complicated," says Johnson. "This is a way to sort out what is really important. So many people look for opportunities to help in other countries and if we would just open our eyes the opportunity to help everyday is right here where you live." DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Site Search: A new improved archive search is coming! Look for it in mid-February! .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - ODOT Road Cams