A new ministry effort designed to help anyone in need in the community, the First Baptist Church in Escalon has started hosting weekly lunches.

Being put on each Wednesday at the church, 1511 Catherine Way, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Pastor Rick Williams said it is a free lunch, open to all.

“We are reaching out, we distributed some 150 flyers the day before we started it,” Williams explained.

Many of those flyers went to area senior citizen housing complexes but Williams said the meal isn’t just for the city’s older residents.

“It is for anyone, a community lunch,” he said.

All are invited to bring the kids and come as you are, the pastor added.

The first lunch was offered this past Wednesday, Jan. 13 and the next one will be today, Jan. 20 starting at 11:30 a.m.

Flyers sent out by the church ask a couple of questions – ‘Fridge Almost Empty?’ and ‘Getting A Little Scary?’ – if you can answer yes to either of those questions, come join in the free lunch.

All ages are welcome, Williams said, and the church is behind Hillier Ford, off McHenry Avenue on Catherine Way.

For more information, call the First Baptist Church at 838-3213.

“It is going to work out fine, we did have some response from the seniors,” noted Williams, who added that the ‘Lunch On Us’ program is a way for First Baptist to share God’s love and blessings with the community.