Plans are underway in the northern part of Stanly County for a temporary new location of the Community Table.

According to Heather Kilde of Stanly Community Christian Ministry, a drive-through location for lunches two days a week will start in mid-September at Mt. Zion Lutheran Church.

Lunches will be available Tuesday and Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. No registration will be necessary for anyone wanting a meal, which will be a box lunch.

Kilde said SCCM has hired a supervisor for the new location who is working on getting supplies. She added meals will be cooked in Albemarle and transported to the Richfield church for distribution.

The meals will not be cooked in Richfield, Kilde said, because SCCM does not have a location yet with a commercial kitchen.

Ruth Ann Sipe, pastor of Mt. Zion Lutheran, said her church “has a long history of supporting SCCM. When we were asked if we would provide space to host that meal service temporarily, we said yes.”

Sipe added she and others in the church “saw the need in the community.” She said Mt. Zion “can’t do it permanently, but we can do it temporarily in hopes there will be a permanent home.”

SCCM has been doing takeout meals for its other two locations in Albemarle and Norwood since the pandemic started in March of last year.

“While we finalize our permanent home for our Community Table Richfield location, we are thankful for the hospitality of Mt. Zion Lutheran Church,” Kilde said. “We will be serving our meals twice per week in a to-go format from their parking lot…all are welcome to receive a hot meal from our Community Table.”