As the world hurdles closer to what we remember as normalcy, we often become a little blind to issues that have stubbornly remained. Whether this is because we no longer want to see problems after years of nothing but, or because we get swept up in our own lives, it doesn’t change the facts.

When Eagle staff reported that attendance at the nightly community meals at several Butler churches was on the rise, it definitely got us talking. Food prices have gone up, one of the many reasons volunteers thought might be driving the spike in attendance.

We have to remember that the country and the world are still heavily unbalanced in the wake of the pandemic. In our own backyards, some friends and neighbors are having to prioritize basic human needs, and we don’t even realize it.

The Rev. Mary Malloy, pastor at St. Andrews United Presbyterian Church, claimed that help with meals allows them to pay their rent or buy gas to get to work, or ensure their children have clothing and shoes.

The volunteers that work to make all of these meals deserve to be recognized for their extensive efforts, and set an example for all of us to follow moving forward.

One of the better aspects of being raised in a smaller, more rural area is that our sense of community is almost hereditary, rather than learned.

We’ve all been separated for years at this point. It’s natural that our concerns still reside within our own borders and those of our families. Efforts like these meals remind us that we are a part of a community. On top of church volunteers, businesses also contribute to the effort.

Giant Eagle donates canned goods, bread, and other items, while the owner of Dairy Queen on Route 8 in Penn Township brings ice cream once a week for a special treat.

The Presbyterian churches that donate monthly meals to St. Andrews, in addition to Hill United Presbyterian Church, are Muddy Creek Evangelical Presbyterian, Unionville Evangelical Presbyterian, Trinity Presbyterian and East Butler Presbyterian.

Anyone can donate to any of the churches in the community meals to help support the ministry. Pulling together is just as important now as it’s ever been.

We’re grateful to these incredible volunteers and ministries for reminding us of that.

–CM