CENTERVILLE—For the last 15 years, Episcopal Church of the Resurrection has been serving a free dinner once a month to anyone in the community who wants a hot meal. They average about 155 people at each one. Their Feb. 19 dinner marked 135 meals served.

Interfaith monthly dinner committee members are: (L to R) Greg Putz, Suzie Putz, Ron Burt, Leslie Burt, Tammy Matheson, Stephanie Gilbert and Shawnii Lyman. Courtesy photo

 It takes a lot of hands to make it happen, but volunteer Dan Bammes considers Greg Putz a community hero for all the work he’s done over the years to keep it going.

“He’s been the guiding light behind the monthly community dinners hosted by Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Centerville for many years,” he said. “While other congregations regularly help with the dinners, he's been the one demonstrating how they should be done and making sure the facilities are ready to host hundreds of guests each month.”

The volunteers look to Greg for guidance, said Bammes. “He’s infinitely patient with people who don’t know what to do. I value that about him. He’s involved with the church in a spiritual way as well as service to the community. I’ve never heard him raise his voice.”

Greg does the planning and organizing, he said. “He’s always there to be a resource to people who work to make the dinner happen.”

His motivation is service to God, said Bammes. “He doesn’t do it to get famous, it’s strictly to take care of the people who eat there. His reward is that hungry people eat.”

The purpose of the dinner is to serve people who come through the door, Bammes said. “We’re open hearted with whoever that is. No one is asked their religion or immigration status. If you’re hungry – you just show up and you can eat.”

It started in 2010, said Putz. “Steve Ober was on the board of directors for the Bountiful Food Pantry. He had the idea that the excess food could be cooked and served.” 

The Episcopal Church was built in 2002, he said. “It was a beautiful building that had a kitchen where meals could be made.”

Putz said they make a nice meal. “We have real table cloths, silverware and plates with centerpieces on the tables. Any extra food we package up and let people take home as much as they want. It’s sad because sometimes people say they can’t take it home because they don’t have a refrigerator. They’re living out of their car.”

The community dinners had to stop during COVID, he said. “From April 2020 to 2023 we couldn’t serve any meals because you couldn’t have large gatherings. It was hard to do. We took clam shells (boxes) out to cars. But we rebounded from that.”

It changed after that, said Putz. “It turned into an interfaith project with Bountiful, North Salt Lake and Centerville churches. We have St. Olaf, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, First Baptist Church and Bountiful Community Church. We’re looking to find other churches too.”

Every month a different church cooks, serves and cleans up, he said. “It’s worked really well. People start coming at 5 p.m. and set up their table. There are a lot of elderly people with their friends who sit together and talk.”

The dinners are supported by several groups, Putz said. “The Bountiful Food Pantry, the Bishop’s Storehouse and Costco gave us a big grant. Walmart has helped us too.” 

Putz said he started volunteering after moving here from California. “It was an activity of our parish. I took on a leadership role and I enjoy doing it.”

There’s a definite need, he said. “It’s hard sometimes to see people in need come through the door but we’ve seen so many blessings. If we can make one kid or family smile” it’s worth it.

Many of the people never have anyone look them in the eye and ask how they’re doing, said Putz. “We encourage servers on the line to talk to people and look them in the eye and ask ‘how are you today?’”

It’s the human side of it, he said. “We’re not only feeding their stomach but we’re feeding their soul. We want to make people feel important when they’re here.”

The community dinners are held on the third Wednesday of every month at Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, 1131 S. Main Street, Centerville from 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. For more information visit ecor.org or call 801-295-1360.