First Baptist honored for work with Food n’ Friends

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By Samantha McCarthy—For the North Star Reporter

First Baptist Church in North Attleboro has received a 35-year service award for its participation in the Food n’ Friends program, which provides free meals to those in need. 

“They’re all in different places — different circumstances, the type of day they had, they get to tell you the problems they’ve got. For the most part, you put yourself in their shoes,” said Richard Dufault. 

Dufault and his wife, Sharon, have been a part of the program since its beginning. Starting at Grace Episcopal Church just down the road, it was moved to First Baptist Church a few years later. 

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, 60-80 individuals would gather at First Baptist Church to eat their meals. But, now, volunteers work to prepare about 200 meals, with around 60 being served in person, the other 140 going to the Attleboro VFW for pickup. 

“We have some regulars who’ve been coming here for years and years. Some, we have lost,” said Veronica Clark, who has volunteered with the program for around 13 years. “Usually, they all come in and have good attitudes, they’re really friendly.”  

Food n’ Friends is an Attleboro-based program that provides nutritious meals to those in need.  The Food n’ Friends program of the Attleboro Area Interfaith Collaborative, 501c(3), serves over 24,000 meals a year in six daily kitchens a week, three Family Cafes a month, and four Kids Summer Cafes in the parks through the summers. The free Daily Kitchens serve the Attleboro, North Attleborough, Seekonk, Norton, and Mansfield communities.

Clark and her daughter, Adriana, have dedicated their time and effort to preparing and transporting meals for those who need it most. Stressing the importance of honest work and giving back, the two enjoy the time spent helping out. 

Mark Schneider, a fellow volunteer, assisted in putting plates together and talked about the process of efficiently working together. He shared a recipe for ‘slug burgers,’ a meatloaf-barbecue sandwich that is able to be put together quickly, but still creates a flavorful meal. 

The volunteers of the Food N’ Friends program over the past 35 years have helped countless people throughout local towns. A schedule with locations and times for dine-in and pickup is available through the Attleboro Area Interfaith Collective.  

Sharon Dufault left one piece of advice that is often forgotten, when giving back to the community: “Treat others the way you want to be treated.”