(Whitewater Unites Lives submission) The Whitewater Responds Team members, made up of Terrie Parenteau; Barb Dickens; Deb and Dave Gamble; Kelli Danielski; Jessie, Ethan and  Colin Dugan; and Traci and Nick Wilson,  are Hometown Heroes for, “The Whitewater Responds Team members at First United Methodist Church have prepared and distributed over 8,000 free, take-home microwavable meals since the start of UW-Whitewater’s fall semester. Though these meals are given to many university students, they also feed families and community members. This ministry is in response to the needs of students and community members during these COVID times.”

The nomination includes:  “The Whitewater Responds Team is small but powerful. They prepare nutritious meals, complete with yummy desserts. All meals are prepared in the FUMC kitchen and are prepared with love. All meals are home-cooked. The team works all week – and often on the weekends – to prepare take-home meals for distribution on Tuesdays and Thursdays. (The smells coming out of the church kitchen are heavenly.) The team not only cooks, they also meet and greet the folks coming through the church parking lot to pick up meals at the ‘take-out window.’ Even during these times of physical distancing, relationships are formed in the giving and sharing of meals.

All are welcome to receive meals. No questions are asked. No identification is required. If you’re hungry, you are invited to join in the feast. Our role model is Jesus: he fed the 5,000 simply because they were hungry.   

This ministry is sustained with gifts from the FUMC congregation and community members. Oftentimes we receive donations from parents of UW-Whitewater students, thanking Whitewater Responds for their nurturing and nutritious care.

Whitewater Responds took a hiatus during the month of December to allow the team a rest and to review and reassess the needs of the community.” Banner note: The meal distribution continues to be paused while the church kitchen is undergoing a major renovation.

WUL (Whitewater Unites Lives) is a locally-focused civil and human rights group that works to connect the people in our community and to create opportunities for all people to learn and support each other in our common humanity.   

Anyone who would like to nominate a local hero of any age should send their nomination, with a short description, to whitewaterunites@gmail.com